UX Research Basics - Collect Your Data

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary purpose of building rapport with a research participant?

To evaluate the participant's skills and abilities

To learn about the participant's role and daily challenges (correct)

To make the researcher feel more comfortable

To ensure the participant stays in the session for the entire duration

What is the recommended approach to conducting an interview?

Focus on the participant's weaknesses and challenges

Use aggressive questioning to get more information

Jump immediately into the core research questions

Start with light conversations and gradually move to the core questions (correct)

What is the purpose of a checklist in UX research preparation?

To ensure the participant feels comfortable

To evaluate the participant's skills and abilities

To create a script for the interview

To guide the researcher's observation and interviewing process (correct)

What is a critical aspect of conducting an observation?

Taking detailed notes and recordings Signup and view all the answers

What should the researcher ensure during an interview or observation?

The participant feels comfortable and is free to leave at any time Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to smile during a UX research session?

To provide encouragement and build rapport with the participant Signup and view all the answers

What should you do if your participant begins to stray off topic during a UX research session?

Gently bring them back on track Signup and view all the answers

Why should you resist the urge to train or correct the participant during a UX research session?

To avoid influencing the participant's behavior Signup and view all the answers

What is the Hawthorne effect in UX research?

A phenomenon where participants change their behavior due to being observed Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of contextual inquiry in UX research?

To understand the context of the user's actions and needs Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of asking if the research participant has any questions?

To provide an opportunity for the participant to clarify any doubts Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of providing a small gift to the research participant?

To show appreciation for the participant's time and effort Signup and view all the answers

What is the next step in the research process after completing data gathering?

Collating the data to identify trends and commonalities Signup and view all the answers

Why is it essential to provide a summary of next steps to the participant?

To maintain transparency and build trust Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of expressing gratitude to the research participant?

To show appreciation for the participant's time and effort Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of developing a master-apprentice relationship with participants?

To understand participants' tasks and environment better Signup and view all the answers

What should researchers focus on during interviews with users?

The outcomes users want to achieve Signup and view all the answers

What should researchers avoid during interviews to prevent introducing bias?

Going off script and wording questions in a biased manner Signup and view all the answers

What should researchers do when users provide generalities during interviews?

Probe for more details or actual examples Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential problem with taking notes during interviews?

Getting so wrapped up in note-taking that you stop engaging with the participant Signup and view all the answers

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.

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Description

Learn how to collect data without bias, observe user behaviors, and conduct effective interviews to understand user needs. Develop your interview and observation skills.