---
title: "Adding Form Fields to Conversation Outlines"
nav_title: "Form Fields"
description: "Capture consistent structured data during conversations without turning the participant experience into a form."
date: "2026-03-30"
tags: ["form fields", "structured data capture", "data collection", "field inference"]
nav_order: 9
nav_display: true
---

# Adding Form Fields to Conversation Outlines

Form fields let you capture the same details across conversations without interrupting the participant. Instead of showing a rigid questionnaire, the agent extracts specific data points from what people say and shows them as structured, scannable data after the conversation.

<div style="padding:62.21% 0 0 0;position:relative;"><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/1131862347?badge=0&amp;autopause=0&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" title="How to Add Form Fields in Perspective AI"></iframe></div><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script>

## Use Cases

Form fields are ideal when you need to:

- **Collect consistent data across conversations** - Ensure every participant provides the same core information
- **Surface key details** - See critical facts without reading full transcripts
- **Segment participants** - Use structured data to group and analyze responses by specific attributes
- **Track specific metrics** - Capture quantifiable or categorical information alongside qualitative feedback

**Common use cases:**
- Onboarding interviews capturing use cases, goals, and referral sources
- Feature feedback sessions tracking current usage patterns and pain points
- Customer research identifying company size, role, and decision-making authority
- User testing documenting technical environment and experience levels

## Adding Form Fields to Your Research Outline

### 1. Open your research outline

Navigate to the research outline where you want to add form fields. You can add fields to new or existing outlines.

### 2. Instruct Perspective conversationally

Tell Perspective exactly what information you want to capture. Be specific about the fields you need.

**Example instruction:**
```
Add form fields for the following:
- The user's main use case
- The goals they hope to achieve with our service
- How they learned about our product
```

![Chat interface showing form field request](/images/add-form-fields-in-chat.png "screenshot")
*Request form fields conversationally by listing the specific information you want to capture.*

### 3. Review the updated outline

The research outline will update within a few seconds. Your new form fields will appear in the outline structure alongside your other research components.

![Research outline showing newly added form fields](/images/form-fields-in-outline.png "screenshot")
*Form fields fit into your existing conversation outline.*

Your form fields are now active. The agent will infer or collect them during conversations that use this outline.

## Viewing Form Field Results

### In post-interview emails

Team post-interview summary emails include form fields and the participant's answers at the top when structured data is available, making key information immediately visible.

![Email showing form field responses](/images/email-with-form-fields.png "screenshot")
*Team post-interview summary emails display form field data prominently for quick scanning.*

### In the product interface

Open the Form Data tab for any conversation summary directly in Perspective. This view displays all structured data captured during the interview.

![Form fields view in conversation summary](/images/switch-to-form-data-view.png "screenshot")
*Access form field data from any conversation summary using the Form Data tab.*

### In automations and analysis

Form field values are stored as structured output. They are included in webhook and automation payloads, can be sent to downstream tools, and can be analyzed in [Analysis Sessions](/docs/guide/analyze/analysis-sessions).

For delivery patterns, see [Automations](/docs/guide/design/automations) and [Automation Recipes](/docs/build/automation-recipes).

## Best Practices

**Keep fields focused.** Limit form fields to 3-7 essential data points. Too many fields can make the interview feel like a checklist rather than a conversation.

**Use clear, specific field names.** Instead of "Background," use "Years of experience in role" or "Current platform used." Specificity helps the AI extract accurate information.

**Let conversation guide collection.** Form fields work best when they capture information that naturally emerges during conversation, not forced questions.

**Combine with open-ended goals.** Use form fields for structured data while your research goals drive deeper qualitative exploration.

**Review fields after testing.** Run a practice interview to ensure form fields capture the right level of detail and aren't creating awkward conversational moments.

## Common Pitfalls & Fixes

**Too many form fields** → Reduce to only essential data points. If you need 10+ pieces of structured data, consider whether some belong in participant screening instead.

**Vague field descriptions** → Be specific. "Company info" is vague; "Company size (number of employees)" is clear and actionable.

**Duplicating research goals** → Form fields should capture factual, structured data. Save exploratory questions and deeper insights for your research goals.

**Overlooking the data** → Form fields are only valuable if you use them. Build a habit of reviewing form field summaries before diving into full transcripts.

## When to Use Form Fields

Add form fields when you need consistent structured data alongside the transcript.