Layer 1 : Interview Conduct Protocol

Before the Interview

• Assemble the interview brief: one play (cluster × use case) × one question pack (respondent type). Fill the pack’s Assemble fields before the call — that brief is the equipment you take in.
• Confirm participant has received the consent and information sheet
• Confirm recording preference (recorded / notes only / anonymous)
• Confirm whether attribution is permitted in outputs
• Identify respondent category and access basis at point of contact
• Confirm the assembled play against Candidate Regions and desk hypotheses
• Run the screener (Section 7) if not already completed at scheduling

Opening (All Categories)

1. Thank the participant and confirm voluntary participation
2. State the research purpose: regional adoption readiness assessment for Cardano government and emerging-market entry
3. State the commissioning context: Cardano Product Committee research (RFP 05)
4. Explain how findings will be used: internal decision support; public summary excludes confidential material
5. Confirm confidentiality treatment and right to withdraw
6. Ask permission to proceed

Core Evidence Capture (All Categories)

During the conversation, keep probes on the assembled play. Map evidence to:

Capture Target	Interviewer Action
Decision gates addressed	Tag each substantive finding to one or more gates for this play
Counterparty intelligence	Name or archetype; role type per Stakeholder Access; access basis
Adoption signals	Describe signal; propose CASS tier with evidence justification (only if a signal appears)
Regulatory findings	Apply three-tier certainty (Clear / Evolving / Uncertain) where relevant
Infrastructure prerequisites	Note mobile, identity, payment, wallet UX, or delivery constraints
Play status	Confirmed / revised / rejected / inconclusive after the call
Referrals	Capture with referrer permission

Category-specific probes: Question Packs. Prioritise each pack’s primary gates; fill Capture fields before ingest.

Closing (All Categories)

1. Ask whether anything important was not covered
2. Confirm willingness to be re-contacted for fact-checking
3. Ask for referrals to other relevant stakeholders (with permission to name the referrer)
4. Confirm post-interview data handling (how notes or recordings will be stored)
5. Thank the participant