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Questions and Answers
What should be avoided during the design process according to the provided guidelines?
What should be avoided during the design process according to the provided guidelines?
Which phrase would best guide a conversation towards actionable feedback?
Which phrase would best guide a conversation towards actionable feedback?
What is emphasized as a critical aspect to pay attention to in user research?
What is emphasized as a critical aspect to pay attention to in user research?
What does the term 'partnership' refer to in this context?
What does the term 'partnership' refer to in this context?
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What is a suggested focus area to guide conversations during the design process?
What is a suggested focus area to guide conversations during the design process?
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What is the primary focus of contextual inquiry?
What is the primary focus of contextual inquiry?
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Which of the following methods focuses on ongoing experience rather than remembered experience?
Which of the following methods focuses on ongoing experience rather than remembered experience?
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What type of data should be prioritized in contextual inquiry?
What type of data should be prioritized in contextual inquiry?
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What should be avoided during contextual inquiry?
What should be avoided during contextual inquiry?
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Which statement embodies a better practice in contextual inquiry?
Which statement embodies a better practice in contextual inquiry?
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What approach should an interviewer take if direct observation isn't possible?
What approach should an interviewer take if direct observation isn't possible?
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What is a common drawback of relying on interviews for data collection?
What is a common drawback of relying on interviews for data collection?
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How should the interviewer guide the conversation during a contextual inquiry?
How should the interviewer guide the conversation during a contextual inquiry?
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What type of relationship should be built with the user during inquiry?
What type of relationship should be built with the user during inquiry?
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Why is informed consent important in empirical work?
Why is informed consent important in empirical work?
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Which of the following practices should be avoided when engaging with users?
Which of the following practices should be avoided when engaging with users?
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What should be included in an informed consent agreement?
What should be included in an informed consent agreement?
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What type of questions should be used to encourage user dialogue?
What type of questions should be used to encourage user dialogue?
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How can researchers ensure that the data collection process is effective?
How can researchers ensure that the data collection process is effective?
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Which is NOT a recommended strategy for establishing a partnership with users?
Which is NOT a recommended strategy for establishing a partnership with users?
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What does effective explanation during data collection involve?
What does effective explanation during data collection involve?
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What is the primary purpose of soliciting opinions about tools during the introduction phase?
What is the primary purpose of soliciting opinions about tools during the introduction phase?
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During the transition to observation, what should the participant be instructed to do?
During the transition to observation, what should the participant be instructed to do?
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What should an observer do while the participant is working?
What should an observer do while the participant is working?
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What is a cautionary note regarding co-designing with the user during observations?
What is a cautionary note regarding co-designing with the user during observations?
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What should an interviewer do if the participant indicates it is not a good time for interruption?
What should an interviewer do if the participant indicates it is not a good time for interruption?
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What does focus help to keep in a conversation?
What does focus help to keep in a conversation?
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Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of focus?
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of focus?
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In what way should the focus evolve during conversations?
In what way should the focus evolve during conversations?
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What is a common pitfall to avoid when engaging with focus?
What is a common pitfall to avoid when engaging with focus?
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Which of the following best describes the first step in setting a focus?
Which of the following best describes the first step in setting a focus?
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What type of interview is appropriate when a product or process already exists?
What type of interview is appropriate when a product or process already exists?
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What should be done during the observation stage of a work-based interview?
What should be done during the observation stage of a work-based interview?
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What is one of the final steps in conducting a contextual inquiry?
What is one of the final steps in conducting a contextual inquiry?
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Which of the following challenges might occur during contextual inquiry?
Which of the following challenges might occur during contextual inquiry?
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What is meant by 'functional fixedness' in the context of asking about new features?
What is meant by 'functional fixedness' in the context of asking about new features?
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During user research, which aspect should be particularly noted to understand workflow better?
During user research, which aspect should be particularly noted to understand workflow better?
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Which of the following best describes the purpose of summarizing understandings in the wrap-up phase?
Which of the following best describes the purpose of summarizing understandings in the wrap-up phase?
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What should be observed to capture the culture of the work environment?
What should be observed to capture the culture of the work environment?
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Study Notes
Contextual Inquiry
- Contextual design is a method used to understand how people work to improve system design.
- It involves gathering data from users while they are working.
- Work models are created based on collected data.
- Work redesign uses models and data to enhance future work processes.
Why Use Contextual Inquiry?
- Understanding how to improve work while fitting into individuals' lives and current culture is necessary.
Key Insights from Contextual Inquiry
- Reveals hidden work practices.
- Understands cultural and organizational influences.
- Identifies inefficiencies or breakdowns in existing processes.
Historical Influences on Contextual Inquiry
- Participatory design tradition from Europe.
- Interviews from Social Science.
- A hybrid process of discovery.
- Think-aloud protocols from cognitive psychology.
- Ethnography, Brainstorming, Affinity diagramming from Anthropology, Business, and Design.
Principles of Contextual Inquiry
- Four Principles:
- Observing users in their natural work environment.
- Collaborative work with users as co-investigators.
- Meaningful interpretation of observations.
- Maintaining a clear focus but allowing flexibility in conversation.
Context
- Definition: Interrelated conditions where something occurs or exists.
- Understanding work in its natural environment.
- Observing real-world users, agents, or stakeholders.
- Observing while people are working.
- Interviews while people are working.
Key Differences Between Methods
- Interviews/Surveys/Focus Groups: Remembered experience, summary data, subjective, limited reliability of human memory, focus on what people think they do.
- Contextual Inquiry: Ongoing experience, concrete data, objective, limited by ability to observe directly, focus on what people actually do.
Context Do's & Don'ts
- Do's: Observe work in the workplace; seek concrete data. Directly ask questions about processes.
- Don'ts: Avoid summary information (don't ask "What do you dislike?" Instead ask "Could you show me how to...") and abstract data (avoid words like "usually" or "generally"). Direct conversations toward recent events and practical examples.
Explanation
- Two kinds of explanation: During data collection and after data collection.
- Data collection to generate observations, then move to hypotheses, implications, and design ideas.
Focus
- Focus is a perspective.
- Explicit entering focus for clarity.
- Characteristics of focus: Keeps conversation on useful topics, uses pre-existing assumptions and beliefs, reveals and conceals aspects of focus.
Role of Focus
- Directs selection of participants and questioning.
- Creates understanding and provides rich data.
Focus Do's & Don'ts
- Allow focus to direct conversation and expand.
- Probe surprises and contradictions; ask what isn't understood or if something seems unexpected.
- Be wary of nodding in agreement and be ready to challenge assumptions without validating them.
- Avoid expert blind spots.
Setting Focus
- Form a stakeholder team.
- Brainstorm questions, assumptions, and design ideas.
- Record ideas.
- Group questions using sticky notes (affinity diagrams).
- Develop a generalized focus statement.
- Review with the team.
Work-based Interview
- Use when products or processes exist; users can complete tasks while observed; work can be interrupted.
- Steps: Introduction, Transition, Observation/Explanation, Wrap-up.
Introduction
- Introduce yourself and team members. Get consent.
- Articulate the focus of the observation to the interviewee.
- Provide an overview of the participant's work.
- Ask questions about their tools.
Transition
- Transition to observing work. Guide user through the process.
- Encourage thinking aloud and offer clarification if needed.
Observational and Explanation
- Encourage "thinking aloud." Follow focus, draw out more information.
- Interpret observations.
- Validate the information (optional). If appropriate, consider ways to create a design based on these early observations.
Wrap-up
- Summarize understandings.
- Ask for additional insights or questions.
- Thank the individual for their participation.
- Open the door to further explorations, especially regarding additional insights on a design.
Problems with Asking about New Features
- People understand their existing world within a structure (fixedness) rather than a structure up for alteration.
- Feature requests rarely result in a complete redesign.
- People find it harder to visualize theoretical situations and prefer working with the familiar.
Pay attention to (and document):
- Flow of work.
- Sequence of work.
- Culture of the work.
- Artifacts used in the work.
Questions to Ask During the Interaction
- Establish role(s) and responsibilities.
- Identify work coordination methods, tools, and any coordination spaces.
- Document where observed problems in the existing interaction may be occurring.
- What (if any) order must be followed for the tasks?
- Ask about conditions influencing task steps that may be different.
- Identify any problems encountered.
Culture of Work
- Understanding expectations, desires, policies, values, and cultural factors affecting work processes.
- Identify any relevant policies, values, or cultural influences that affect the work.
Challenges
- Time constraints.
- Access/availability.
- Interruptions.
- Observer bias.
- Self-consciousness of users.
- Multiple workflows.
- Balancing observation with participation.
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Description
This quiz explores the principles and applications of contextual inquiry, a method for understanding user interactions to enhance system design. Learn about its history, key insights, and the importance of aligning work processes with individual and organizational cultures.
