For design teams that lack experience, user research can be fairly intimidating, if not a big, scary thing to tackle. How can you get a team out of the office and out into the field with your customers when time and resources are constrained? Learn how to build a foundation that allows inexperienced researchers to listen to--and learn from--your customers by taking advantage of existing skillsets, applying some simple techniques, and using basic UX knowledge. You can empower an inexperienced team to gain the confidence needed to conduct valuable research, as well as build on a core foundation for performing research. And you can do this right now.

1. Russ Unger | @russu GE Capital
ResearchingWITH A TEAM
ResearchTHAT’S NEW TO
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2. PopularResearchMethods
Surveys / Questionnaires
Interviews
Usability Testing
Contextual Inquiry
Card Sorting
Focus Groups
Workshops

3. &Talking Listening
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4. &Talking Listening
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5. In Order to Listen, We Have to...
QUESTIONS
ASKPEOPLE

6. TypesofQuestions
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7. Closed Questions
• Short answers
• Very little info
• More work for you
• Not all bad; can
lead to open
questions!
Do you like cheese?
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8. OpenQuestions
• Longer answers
• Leads to detailed
answers
• The potential for
all kinds of info you
may not have known
Why do you like cheese?
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9. BonusRound!

10. ContinuationQuestions...
• Let you probe for
more details
• Let you rebound
from closed questions
• And...?
What do you like about the texture of cheese?
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11. But don’t go too far...

12. GoodResearchQuestions
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13. GoodResearchQuestions...
• Are explicit to the person’s experience
• Don’t guide someone toward an answer
• Avoid yes/no and true/false
• Aim for a conversation but not a
specific answer in the truest sense
• Let you shut up and listen

14. Let’sDoThis.
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15. Interviewing

16. Usability Testing

17. BonusBonus:Bodies

18. GetComfortableWithYourBodies
Hands on Hips Negative ArmsHands on Head

19. GetComfortableWithYourBodies
Leaning Forward Positive ArmsThumbs Tucked

20. GetComfortableWithYourBodies
•Take Out a Pen
•Hold the ends with:
• Left Thumb & Fore Finger
• Right Thumb & Fore Finger
•Hold at Chest Level
•Roar

21. GetComfortableWithYourBodies
•Take Out a Pen
•Hold the ends with:
• Left Thumb & Fore Finger
• Right Thumb & Fore Finger
•Hold at Chest Level
•Roar
T-Rex

22. GetComfortableWithYourBodies
...and don’t forget to smile...
Especially when you’re on the phone!

23. SoWhat?

24. ThingstoRemember
• Aim for questions without built-in
answers; conversation is key!
• Leave room for lengthy answers
• Respect silence
• Practice before putting into practice
• Practice again

25. Practice Practice Practice

26. THANKYOU!Russ Unger | @russu
GE Capital
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