Hi Marijke,
I wondered whether anyone would suggest a more candid approach. I'd
agree that simply 'chatting' about their website experience might
yield a better insight.
I also think filtering user discussions is important - eliminating
users if their interaction took place more than say two weeks prior.
If the user vaguely recalls their experience of the website the value
of data diminishes.
I like the idea of actually revisiting the website in the field,
however I was hoping to remove the 'lab' like feel out of the research.
Rob
// Rob Enslin
IxD aspirer
// twitter.com/robenslin
// +44 (0)759 052 8890
On 21 Sep 2008, at 07:31, "Marijke Rijsberman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
Rob,
I'd say this is pretty risky. Unless you can see your participants
interacting with the website in question, you have no way to
evaluate their
comments.
I can't count the number of times I've sat through sessions with
people who
couldn't complete most of the tasks I'd ask them to do with some
piece of
software. And then they'll say they think it's very good. Unless
people have
something they MUST do with the software and they can't get it done,
they'll
give you absurdly positive evaluations, and even if they've gotten
frustrated they'll often couch their complaints in excuses and
exculpations.
Only a small minority seems to have the temperament to just tell you
what
you need to know. I'm not sure I quite understand the phenomenon,
but it
seems to be a combination of low expectations, denial, and
misattribution by
which they increase their own chances of success and happiness in
life and
decrease the likelihood you get an accurate picture of how well a
site or an
app really works.
Anyhow, maybe you can set up a computer and ask them to show you how
they
use the website, ask them to do a few of the things the website is
supposed
to support. You'd vastly increase the amount of real knowledge you
carry
away with you.
marijke
Marijke Rijsberman
http://www.interfacility.com
http://landfill.wordpress.com
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of
Rob
Enslin
Sent: Friday, September 19, 2008 8:25 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: [IxDA Discuss] Field research
My questions to you.
1. Do you think this sort of field research is beneficial? (or am I
wasting
my time?)
2. What sort of questions will be of most benefit? (to yield maximum
benefit
3. Is there anything that I should watch out for - avoid?
Thanks,
Rob
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