Workflow A business analyst is gathering requirements for an improved business process. No compromises. Benefits of ethnography in UX research and design Let's go through each of these principles. In terms of the design process, there are a few stages where such an inquiry might come in handy. An artifact model depicts the physical tools used to accomplish a task. For example, a telephone may be an artifact if the user must place a call in order to complete a task. The Usability Professionals' Association's Usability Body of Knowledge, [1] defines a contextual inquiry as follows: "A semi-structured interview method to obtain information about the context of use, where users are first asked a set of standard questions and then observed and questioned while they work in their own environments." A contextual interview, or contextual inquiry, is a user research method specifically designed to provide insight into the environment or context in which a design will be used.A contextual interview session typically consists of a mix between a traditional user interview and observations of how the research participants use a product or service in the relevant context. Contextual inquiry means observing users in the most natural context possible, wherever this may be. What is a contextual inquiry UX? Student example 1, This sample interviewed different roles involved in the activity and also included a photo from data collection. Id like to hear how you get on. one week conducting site visits. The contextual inquiry research method could be less potent in two cases. Examples are used only to help you translate the word or expression searched in various contexts. User interview . Create a shopping list. It involves talking to the user (or someone who represents a group of users) about what they need from the product and how they anticipate using . Its pretty hard to question the business value of proper user intelligence the latter research methods provide. It would be good to pause and ask them why they have those work arounds and what problems they encountered before they came up with them. Given this, I like to try to dial in my clients symptoms by asking successive open-ended questions. Contextual inquiry allows a designer to understand the hidden work structuresand hidden needs and desiresin a target audience. A contextual inquiry is based on the interaction between the UX researcher and the participant. If the participant isnt comfortable with me taking photos or for confidentiality reasons, then I get them to cross out the photos they dont want on the list. THE METHOD. What are you trying to solve, and why? What users do and. One participant at a time. Thanks for being interested in my UX Knowledge Base Sketches! I try to do it at the beginning of the observation, then we can relax after that. Examples of contextual inquiry include assembling an IKEA high chair at home, shopping for a specific diet at a supermarket, or using new conference software in the workplace. This is true for very simplistic flows. one week of analysis. Thanks, I really appreciate your encouragement! Context (duh). Example of a contextual inquiry session. To help keep it on the rails, try to be mindful of the following five tips. If that means at their desk versus a board room, then that is what it has to be. For example, Moen, a product line of faucets and fixtures, wanted to make. The four . How do you run a Contextual Inquiry? This is everything you need to know about market research vs. UX research. Contextual Inquiry 8 typical patterns and issues 8 common patterns, behaviours and issues seen during a contextual inquiry, with a focus on for enterprise software services and culture. Finally, sometimes digital products just arent that dependent on the context of their usage. Other times it can be a little nebulous, especially if it is an office environment. Again, this mostly applies to context-heavy apps. So, be respectful and be natural. Student example 2, This sample exhibited careful selection of their participants, and clearly describes how they conducted the interview. As a result, you'll be able to answer questions such as: Any issues that users are facing Equipment they are working with How their space is set-up Preference between mouse and keyboard` Cultural Model Ethnographic UX research reveals user insights by allowing you to observe users in the context of their real-life technical and social environments. As humans, we all do this so it is not worth obsessing about it, but as researchers, we need to take steps to minimize misreporting. Knowing how and when to use it is the first step, but keep in mind that this will require a more engaged and informed participant in order to be successful. Step 1: Determine who you want feedback from Your target participants may change depending on your business goals. Conclusion This approach contrasts with the usual in-lab or remote user research activities that take place outside of the users natural habitat. What are your research questions? I appreciate that we as UX practitioners may not always align well with that kind of rationale, but this is design, and we are designing for others, not ourselves. Contextual Inquiry A Contextual Inquiry is a user interview & observation session conducted wherever a prospective customer will use your product (for example, in their home or office). As a general rule, you can expect a contextual enquiry to take 3 weeks of elapsed time: one week planning and preparing. The development team can also help you define . usability testing session and an on-site contextual observation session. The second case, when a contextual inquiry might be overkill is for the product or flows that arent very dependent on the context. UX Designer Mentor Founder of the UX Knowledge Base Sketch https://uxknowledgebase.com Sketching for UX Designers https://sketchingforux.com. 3. Think of your potential users and their operating environment. That way you wont have to redo anything that has to do with the usage context. It can be understood as: - an ethnographic interviewing technique (Beyer, & Holtzblatt, 1997) - from a wider perspective, as the rst phase of the research-based design process (Leinonen,Toikkanen, & Silvfast, 2008). In this example, designers may add content about what information users may need to have on hand before beginning the form. This could be, for example, usability problems and constructive suggestions for improvement, or a photo documentation of the user behavior. This knowledge is critical to product design but isn't amenable to reductive statistical techniques: you can't take the average of 20 interviews to identify the "typical" user. More often than not, they will lack the vocabulary of the discipline, tell you what they have come to believe, or say something incorrectly because they simply cant remember after the fact. You should observe users in their "natural habitats" within their usual context. So unfortunate as it may be, we do need to respect the business realities of the engagement. In our collection of UX-research methodologies, contextual inquiry is essential. Similarly, if observing the natural behavior means watching a custodian, then that is who you should observe, and not their boss who thinks they have the answers. This model includes an illustration or photograph of each artifact, along with a description of how it contributes to the user's workflow. For example, when researching how people shop for a particular item in a grocery store, you should spend time on the isle that the product is located. In our collection of UX-research methodologies, contextual inquiry is essential. Contextual Inquiry is a UX Research method that combines observation and interviewing. I always find it easier to start your planning with why youre doing this and what you aim to find out from your participants. User centered As contextual inquiry is led by the participants, it takes whatever course the user wants to give it as well as flexible from their point of view. 6. Think of a work productivity app. Now, of course, you cant always detail every aspect of what you are trying to solve for as that may set the process down a trajectory that is unnatural and counterproductive. These are critical questions that will ultimately direct your findings. Start getting user feedback today: https://www.playbookux.com/_____ #ux #userexperience #contextualinquiry #contextual. Helping startups to improve their apps usability & realize their business goals, for Startups, UX Designers & Entrepreneurs, We can help you interview users, analyze the findigs and form an actionable plan. Click on the desktop icon. Much like our clients, the research participants will frequently lack an understanding of our methods and objectives. Start off with telling the participants that you want to learn by watching and asking questions, as if you were learning to do their job. So clue them in, and empower them to make the process great. This allows you to get to the core problems they face and the pain points the participants are experiencing. As UX practitioners we must work to understand users conscious and unconscious actions, but how? Contextual Inquiry is a UX Research method that combines observation and interviewing. 1. Context-heavy apps should definitely involve contextual studies so that you can build something that is used, useful and useable. 4. Contextual inquiry is a qualitative research technique that lets researchers see and inquire what users do in their natural environment (like in their homes or work places). In all cases, though, make sure you are indeed observing users in the most natural context. This is a straight-forward process. It is likely that the participant has experienced teaching somebody something so it allows them switch to the master mode and gives you the chance to ask questions to check your understanding of what youre seeing (being the apprentice). This study reports the implementation of an inquiry-based science project in a preschool setting, in the context of a preservice teacher's school placement. 2. In other words, it tests the site's usability. For example, workflows done on single channels or simple interfaces, as is usually the case with apps and websites, aren't ideal candidates for contextual inquiry. However, what these things have in common is they usually lack context. Giving this the proper consideration can not be overstated. Context always matters. To that end, contextual inquiry can be an incredibly powerful method, but since it relies on clients providing the right level of access and the research participants to take an above-average active role in the process, it often can run off the tracks. Be Open and Honest So remember empathy. 1. I find that oftentimes such stakeholders have overlap with . 2. As a research method, a contextual inquiry (CI) has a few principles that serve as a basis for this approach. By watching the user and listening as they explain their task, you can begin to understand deep-seated perceptions and assumptions, as well as identify pain points and opportunities. To begin you need to ask yourself: where will I conduct the research, and who should be involved? A software bug is an error, flaw or fault in the design, development, or operation of computer software that causes it to produce an incorrect or unexpected result, or to behave in unintended ways. If you like my sketches, you can buy me a coffee to support my work! A heuristic evaluation is a way to test whether a website is user friendly. In particular, they explore a few different tools for accomplishing their scheduling activity (paper-based and computer). An example of a digital product the context of the usage of which is essential would be an app for Emergency Room healthcare personnel. Designing for the Digital Age: How to Create Human-Centered Products and Services, Rex Hartson, R., Pyla, P. Melon Experience Design in a small consultancy based in London, UK. Given the overarching function of user experience research (UXR) in bringing end-users' needs to design conversations, a research method based on direct observation of current workflows offers a powerful way of understanding those needs. The same applies to you. This is a solid example of a good contextual inquiry report. EXAMPLES We love it, but it is not always the right fit. Sometimes it does not fit in the timeline or budget. Contextual interviews combine observations with interviewing. I check the list with the participant early on to get their OK to take photos throughout the research. An example would be spending time on testing sign up and sign-in flows. CONTEXTUAL INQUIRY Contextual Inquiry is a user-centered design research method. However, that should not sway you against considering said it. So give them the best you can, politely help them understand why there may be a shortcoming, and at all costs, preserve the fidelity of the methods for the greater good of UX! Time and costs aside, taking into account the quarantine restrictions, its harder to provide safe conditions for close user observation. Observing users in their homes, as they use that productivity app could be overkill. The paper became the foundation for the book, Contextual Design, which is considered "the bible" of using contextual Inquiry in UX research. So this is a very insightful method to immerse yourself in your users environment. There are user interviews, surveys, usability testings, etc. Highlight text in the notes app and tap the "checkbox" to convert the bulleted list into a checklist. Keep observing. In the end, you may not produce as insightful findings as you wish, and likely they wont be as insightful as the client needs, but they are your sponsor, and that is what they wanted. Identify the people (users) to visit and schedule visits. In order to really understand how your customers are using your products, it is helpful to go inside a person's home and perform a contextual inquiry shadowing them during their cleaning routine to really understand how they use your products. Once you understand the problem you think you are setting out to solve and have ensured contextual inquiry is an ideal fit the next step is to devise your research plan. Digital platforms tend to be lacking in contextual information and interaction, with most interactions occurring independently of the environment. Plus, it means I dont have to stop every time to ask for a photo! Contextual inquiry is a type of ethnographic field study that involves in-depth observation and interviews of a small sample of users to gain a robust understanding of work practices and behaviors. The UX Book: Process and Guidelines for Ensuring a Quality User Experience 1st Edition. Therefore, the data you gather might be incomplete or users might unintentionally omit some details they might think are obvious or irrelevant. So you go with a couple of music fans to the next outdoor event. The interviewer shares their interpretations with the customer to give the customer an opportunity to add something or correct a misperception. Get over it. Ideally, if there's a chance to interview the website's design/development team prior to the site visit, you definitely should do that. What is a contextual inquiry? Contextual inquiry means observing users in the most natural context possible, wherever this may be. and create products that they will love. Which route you go depends on numbers and experience - if somebody isn't comfortable interviewing but wants to observe, they . To accomplish this, we try to provide as much information about the process, what the participant should expect, and what we are trying to achieve. You might not have thought of asking as well. During a . Please feel free to join the Sketching for UX Designers group on Facebook, post your UX sketches, share your favorite links, ask questions etc. They provide insight into: What problems people are trying to solve. A contextual inquiry means going to where your users are to see their real-time, behind-the scenes, first-hand experience. 3. Partnership. Here are few things to I do to build rapport: I like to take photos so I can bring the participants context and story to life. Karen Holtzblatt developed the Contextual Inquiry field data gathering technique that forms the core of Contextual Design and is now taught and used world-wide. Generally, usability testing sessions are conducted to validate early clickable prototypes and high-fidelity prototypes.