User study and interview tips for HCI

user studies

1. Discover
   1. Field studies/user interviews
   2. Stakeholder interviews
   3. Requirements and constraints
   4. Gather metrics
2. Explore
   1. Task analysis
   2. Persona building
   3. User stories
   4. Card sorting ← information architecture
   5. Tree testing ← information architecture
      1. Tree of categories, find stuff
   6. Prototype feedback and testing
3. Test
   1. Qualitative
   2. Training research
   3. Social media monitoring
   4. User group outreach
   5. Forum post analysis
   6. Benchmark testing
   7. Accessibility evaluation
   8. Test instructions and help
4. Listen
   1. Search-log analysis
   2. Usability bug review
   3. Feedback review
   4. FAQ review

interviews

• Listen for things as
  • Perceived
  • Desired
  • Done
• Be the apprentice
• Open-ended questions
• Uncover problems and the criteria/metrics for a successful solution
• Possible starting points
  • Existing technology solution and set of procedures
  • Pain points and wishes
  • Reactions to a possible solution concept and/or prototype that can amplify problem understanding
• Think scenarios and getting people to tell stories of what they might do in relevant situations
  • Follow up for clarification
• Listening
  • When suggested features: what problem is the speaker trying to solve for themselves
  • Let the interviewee fill in the silence
  • Avoid empathizing
    • Desire to please → bias
• Structure
  • Research questions
  • Goals
  • Study methods