6. Methods of Gathering User Information
Participation Observation
Text messages
Customer diaries/ Probes
Interviews
Focus Groups
Empathy
Product in Use
Scenarios of Use
Discreet Observations
User trials
7. In participant observation studies the
researcher spends time observing and
recording the behaviour of an individual or
group, "listening to their interactions and
immersing him/herself in the context of the
participant’s daily life“*
*Naked Eye Research (2007) Video ethnography, http://www.naked‐eye‐research.co.uk/tech.html
(accessed January 2008)
participant observation
8. Encouraging participants in a study to send
text messages describing or recording events,
actions or thoughts allows for immediate, real
feedback.
text messages
15. Using scenarios, props and costumes to assist
in 'character building' and furniture
arrangement to represent the product
environment, ‘Scenario‐of‐Use’ aims to
uncover previously unvoiced needs using role
play as a cue for recall
scenario building
16. The Consumer Vision System, developed by
Kimberly Clark, is a research tool which enables
designers to see products through the consumers
eyes.
* www.kimberlyclarke.com accessed May 2008
consumer vision system
20. User trials, sometimes called task analysis
exercises, are simulations of product usage in
which subjects are asked to fulfil specified
tasks using a product or product simulation.*
* Vermeeren, A. P. O. S. (1999) Designing Scenarios and Tasks for User Trials of Home Electronic Devices,
In: Green. W.S and Jordan P.W (1999) Human Factors in Product Design: Current Practice and Future
Trends, Taylor and Francis, London, pp. 47‐55.
user trials
21. Product‐in‐Use is an interactive, naturalistic,
observational method designed to "capture
peoples’ behaviour in real‐life contexts"
providing an "account of the behaviour
surrounding a product or activity" *
* Evans, S., Burns, A. and Barrett, R. (2002) Empathic Design Tutor, Cranfield, IERC, Cranfield
University, UK
product‐in‐use
22. Focus groups create a format which brings
together a selection of participants to
contribute in a two way debate on a
particular issue whilst allowing the
researcher to investigate and identify group
norms and explore conflicting views *. Focus
groups can be useful at various stages of a
project, to establish user needs, test product
designs and evaluate final concepts.
* May, T. (2001) Social Research: Issues, methods and process, Open University Press, Buckingham.
focus groups
24. Cultural probes are one way to access
environments that are difficult to observe
directly and also to capture more of this 'felt
life‘*. Users are given packs containing
recording devices designed to stimulate
thought as well as capture experiences and
asked to record their activities over a period
of time. The information is real and
experiental. This method is useful at the
initial stage of a project in an effort to
identify opportunities and gain a deeper
understanding of behaviour.
*http://www.hcibook.com/e3/casestudy/cultural-probes/.
cultural probes