97 Things Every UX Practitioner Should Know

Chapter 63. The Participant’s Well-Being Is Your Responsibility

Danielle Cooley

In our quest for good research observations, we sometimes forget that the participant’s well-being is more important than our research goals. Paying attention to the participant’s real-time needs can enhance research outcomes because you’re getting the participant’s whole self, and this responsibility belongs to the researcher.

Pay Attention to Physical Needs

The researcher’s responsibility for a participant’s physical needs is most applicable in in-person sessions. Ensure the study environment is at an appropriate temperature and that comfortable seating is provided. Keep noises and distractions to a minimum. Offer the participant some water or a snack—a “hangry” participant isn’t going to give you the clearest commentary.

Physical needs can also extend into actual safety issues. In a summer 2015 study for an automotive manufacturer, we were evaluating a completely reimagined dashboard display and center console. These sessions were conducted inside a parked car. Interior temperature was a major safety concern. On a hot day, the temperatures could exceed what is reasonable or safe. To accommodate this reality, we scheduled breaks (to air out the car), ran the air conditioner on full blast between sessions (alas, not during, as it shorted out the fragile prototype and made it hard to hear the participant), ...