I suppose the question, then, is how important that (obvious but misleading) clarification is to the overall discussion. A model of a person is not a person. A model of a group is not a group. A map is not the territory. Point taken, but I can still use a (good) map to help get me to Albuquerque.
Personas suffer (in some circles) from the erroneous perception that they are based on substantially (or entirely) fictitious data. This is a straw man argument, and one that you are indirectly referencing and lending credence to. Personas help in the interpretation of behavioral data because they help weed out idiosyncracies and contradictions; they are a qualitative means of aggregating and categorizing (i.e., modeling) this data, as well as being a narrative and empathic tool. Are personas a perfect tool, or universally applicable? No. But they certainly (IMHO) add value when used appropriately. In the end, the effectiveness of models built in good faith can only be judged by outcomes of use, which is what makes the research we are discussing so pertinent. Robert. On Thu, May 28, 2009 at 4:31 PM, Robert Hoekman Jr <[email protected]> wrote: > The straw man argument that "personas aren't real" isn't a fair >> characterization when proper data gathering and analysis techniques are >> appropriately applied. > > > Well, they don't eat, they don't sleep, and they don't pay taxes, and you > have to do at least two of those things to be a real, living person. > Personas may be thoroughly based on real people, but calling them "real" > is like calling a movie that is thoroughly based on a real series of > events a "documentary". > > Look, I'm sure personas are all kinds of useful for people who believe > they're all kinds of useful. I'm not here to debate that. I was just > pointing out that when it comes to actual fact, personas aren't real. My > response was meant as a clarification, not an argument. > > (I've got to stop taking the bait on threads like this.) > > -r- > ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [email protected] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
