Contextual Inquiry or: How I Learned to Stop Talking and Love Observation
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Contextual inquiry is an ethnographic research method where users are observed and questioned in their natural work environments. It involves briefly interviewing users, observing them without interrupting as they work, and summarizing insights with them. Key principles are conducting the inquiry in the actual work context, collaborating as partners to understand the user's work, sharing interpretations with the user, and focusing on relevant topics. Researchers should be likable to put users at ease, avoid audio/video recording, and capture artifacts like photos or notes.
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Contextual Inquiry or: How I Learned to Stop Talking and Love Observation
- 1. CONTEXTUAL INQUIRY OR: HOW I LEARNED TO STOP TALKING AND LOVE OBSERVATION by Kevin Vigneault at Lean UX & Content on February 19, 2013
- 3. STORY TIME
- 4. BYPASS LANE URL or Source
- 5. CREDITS
- 6. OH SHIT! CHICKEN SANDWICHES URL or Source
- 8. uber-formal just process winging it
- 9. DEFINITION An ethnographic research method in which users are observed and questioned while they work in their natural environments.
- 10. DEFINITION An ethnographic research method in which users are observed and questioned while they work in their natural environments.
- 11. THE PROCESS 1. Brief Interview 2. The “Switch” 3. Observation 4. Summarization
- 12. FOUR PRINCIPLES
- 13. #1 - CONTEXT Conduct the inquiry in the actual context in which the work is performed.
- 14. #2 - PARTNERSHIP Collaborate to understand the user’s work.
- 15. MASTER-APPRENTICE MASTER APPRENTICE URL or Source
- 16. PARTNERSHIP PARTNER PARTNER URL or Source
- 17. #3 - INTERPRETATION Share your interpretations and insights with the user during the interview.
- 18. #4 - FOCUS Steer the interaction toward topics that are relevant to you.
- 19. THREE PRO TIPS
- 20. #1 - BE LIKABLE People will be more likely to work in their normal, natural way if they feel comfortable around you.
- 21. #2 - NO AUDIO / VIDEO It’s a pain to set up and runs the high risk of making the subject less comfortable.
- 22. #3 - CAPTURE ARTIFACTS Photos, screenshots, notes on paper; whatever you can collect.
- 23. LET’S RECAP 1. An ethnographic research method 2. Happens in a real context 3. Pick a model to follow 4. Be likable & don’t disturb
- 24. THANK YOU LET’S DISCUSS!