book

Researching UX: User Research

by James Lang, Emma Howell

October 2017

Beginner

202 pages

4h 26m

English

SitePoint

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Notice of RightsNotice of LiabilityTrademark NoticeAbout James LangAbout Emma HowellAbout SitePoint
ForewordIf You Feel Unsure, Then Read OnWhat We’ll Cover in this BookThe Gist of the BookAcknowledgmentsConventions UsedTips, Notes, and WarningsSupplementary Materials
Get Started1. Define Your Research2. Define Hypotheses3. Timeline & Resources4. Engage Stakeholders5. Identify RisksTools You Can UseUse Desk Research to Generate HypothesesHold a Kickoff WorkshopTalk to Your StakeholdersCreate a Research CanvasProject PlanMake a Plan to Engage People4. Decide How You Will Communicate With Your TeamWork Through Risks to the ProjectSummary
The Core ConceptsWhat is Data?Qualitative vs. QuantitativeDiscovery vs. ValidationInsight, Evidence and IdeasValidityScaling Your InvestmentMulti-Method ApproachesIn-The-Moment ResearchTaking CareResearch as a Team SportResearch MethodsDepth InterviewsUser TestingGuerrilla InterviewsContextual ResearchWeb AnalyticsCo-designCard SortingTree TestingSurveysA/B testingEyetrackingDiary StudiesFocus GroupsNecessary SkillsHow to Choose Research MethodsHow Many People?Summary
Who To RecruitDefining Your SampleCreating a Recruitment BriefGetting The Right PeopleCreating a ScreenerMethods of Accessing People1. Recruitment Agencies2. Guerilla RecruitmentFinding Participants for Guerrilla Testing3. DIY Recruitment4. GatekeepersPersuading People to Take PartWhy Offer an Incentive?Offering an Appropriate IncentiveArranging SessionsRunning OrderAvoiding No-showsData ProtectionInformed ConsentSummary
What’s the Discussion Guide For?What’s a Discussion Guide Not For?Elements of a Discussion GuideDifferent Kinds of SessionQuestions, Tasks, and ActivitiesTypes of ContentHow to Write a Discussion GuideUse Your ImaginationSummary
Getting Prepared for Research in the LabMonday: Three Days Before Your SessionTuesday: Two Days before your sessionWednesday: The Day Before Your SessionThursday: The Day of Your SessionGetting Prepared for Research in the FieldTuesday: Two Days Before Your SessionWednesday: The Day Before Your SessionThursday: The Day of Your SessionGetting Prepared For Remote ResearchMonday: Three Days Before Your SessionTuesday: Two Days Before Your SessionWednesday: The Day Before Your SessionThursday: The Day of Your SessionSummary
RolesThe InterviewerThe HostNote-takerTaking NotesPost-It NotesTaking Notes in a Spreadsheet or TrelloTaking Typed or Written NotesTaking Notes in Guerrilla/Field ResearchTaking Notes after the InterviewTools For RecordingTop Tips For Recording Your SessionsThe Practicalities of Using Different DevicesRemote Testing When Using Different DevicesGuerrilla Testing With Different DevicesSummary
Show Participants How to Help YouObserving vs. AskingPaying Deep AttentionStarting the SessionMake Sure You Get ConsentStarting Guerrilla Testing SessionsHow to Ask a QuestionHow To Get Out Of TroubleSummary
Why Bother?Phases of AnalysisCherry-picking Analysis ActivitiesHow Much Time Do I Need?Phase 1: Make a PlanActivitiesPhase 2: Absorb the DataCreate a SpaceCollate SourcesReformatRejecting Bad DataPrioritizeReview RecordingsTranscribeWhat to Watch Out ForPhase 3: Finding PatternsReview Objectives or Rolling HypothesesBrain DumpWho Were the People?Conceptual DiagramsMaps & SketchesTableclothAffinity SortWhat to Watch Out ForPhase 4: Working With PatternsThought ExperimentsExtensionThink By MakingMetaphorWhat to Watch Out ForPhase 5: Creating a Narrative

Making Your Research RelevantEngaging Stakeholders Throughout the ProjectAttending Research SessionsShow and Tell (AKA Pizza Sessions)Topline FindingsProject Blog / WebsitesDocumenting What You’ve LearnedReport DeckList ReportingJourney MapExperience MapPersonasShowreelDebrief SessionSummary

Content preview from Researching UX: User Research

Preface

Foreword

I was on stage at UX Manchester and I made a flippant comment about how all focus groups were a waste of time when it came to researching the user experience. When questions came at the end of my talk, a hand shot up. “I don’t agree with your comment about focus groups. They have their uses. All research methods have their strengths and weaknesses.” That hand belonged to James Lang. He came and found me afterwards and we debated the merits of user research methods. At the end of the conversation, I asked if he was looking for a job.

Emma brings 10 years of formal research experience in psychology, cognition, medicine, biology and, of course, user experience. Emma and James are two of the best researchers I’ve ever worked with. ...