20 Questions
What is the primary purpose of building rapport with a research participant?
To learn about the participant's role and daily challenges
What is the recommended approach to conducting an interview?
Start with light conversations and gradually move to the core questions
What is the purpose of a checklist in UX research preparation?
To guide the researcher's observation and interviewing process
What is a critical aspect of conducting an observation?
Taking detailed notes and recordings
What should the researcher ensure during an interview or observation?
The participant feels comfortable and is free to leave at any time
Why is it important to smile during a UX research session?
To provide encouragement and build rapport with the participant
What should you do if your participant begins to stray off topic during a UX research session?
Gently bring them back on track
Why should you resist the urge to train or correct the participant during a UX research session?
To avoid influencing the participant's behavior
What is the Hawthorne effect in UX research?
A phenomenon where participants change their behavior due to being observed
What is the primary goal of contextual inquiry in UX research?
To understand the context of the user's actions and needs
What is the purpose of asking if the research participant has any questions?
To provide an opportunity for the participant to clarify any doubts
What is the significance of providing a small gift to the research participant?
To show appreciation for the participant's time and effort
What is the next step in the research process after completing data gathering?
Collating the data to identify trends and commonalities
Why is it essential to provide a summary of next steps to the participant?
To maintain transparency and build trust
What is the primary goal of expressing gratitude to the research participant?
To show appreciation for the participant's time and effort
What is the primary goal of developing a master-apprentice relationship with participants?
To understand participants' tasks and environment better
What should researchers focus on during interviews with users?
The outcomes users want to achieve
What should researchers avoid during interviews to prevent introducing bias?
Going off script and wording questions in a biased manner
What should researchers do when users provide generalities during interviews?
Probe for more details or actual examples
What is a potential problem with taking notes during interviews?
Getting so wrapped up in note-taking that you stop engaging with the participant
Study Notes
Tips for Conducting UX Research
- Be approachable and positive: smile and provide encouragement to your participant while remaining neutral.
- Ask questions: don't assume anything, and ask questions about anything that isn't clear.
- Stay focused: keep the session on track and avoid going off-topic.
- Keep an eye on the time: ensure you cover all the necessary topics within the allotted time.
- Remember, it's about the user: avoid sharing your own opinions or experiences and focus on the user's experience.
Avoiding Biases
- Beware the Hawthorne effect: the phenomenon where participants alter their behavior because they're being observed.
- Be flexible: things don't always go as planned, so have backup plans for likely scenarios.
- Build rapport: develop a rapport with your participant to reduce the Hawthorne effect.
Conducting Contextual Inquiry
- Context: observe users in their environments to understand the context of their actions.
- Partnership: develop a master-apprentice relationship with your participant to better understand them and their tasks.
- Immersion: perform tasks with your participant to gain a deeper understanding of their work.
- Interpretation: interpret your observations with the participant and verify your assumptions.
Conducting Interviews
- Find a quiet space: avoid distractions and interruptions by using a quiet office or conference room.
- Stick to the script: avoid going off-script and avoid leading questions.
- Focus on outcomes: instead of focusing on solutions, focus on the outcomes and goals users want to achieve.
- Develop patience with silence: use silence to encourage participants to share more information.
- Watch for generalities: probe for specific examples and details instead of relying on generalities.
Note Taking
- Take notes: use a shorthand or paraphrasing to quickly capture key elements.
- Avoid getting too caught up in note-taking: focus on engaging with your participant and following up on their comments.
- Use video or audio recording: for important quotes or observations, use recording to capture verbatim quotes.
Collecting Data
- Learn to collect data: avoid bias, observe critical user behaviors, and interview users about their actions and needs.
- Build your interview and observation skills: practice interviewing and observing users to become more comfortable and effective.
Preparing for Research
- Use a checklist: prepare a checklist of things to observe, question list, and equipment needed.
- Introduce yourself and the purpose of the research: build rapport with your participant and explain the purpose of the research.
- Focus on the participant's comfort: ensure the participant is comfortable and willing to share information.
Learn how to collect data without bias, observe user behaviors, and conduct effective interviews to understand user needs. Develop your interview and observation skills.
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