UserResearchReport

B00062475CiaranCanning

B00062475CiaranCanning

Introduction
Tosolvetheproblemstatedinmylastentry,Illneedtogetinformationfromthoseaffectedby
saidproblem,directlyandindirectly.Thiswillincludepetownersandcohabitants(ifapplicable).
ThiswilltakemethroughtheEmpathizetotheDefinephaseoftheHumanCentredDesign
Approach,ascoveredinthismodulesweek1and2readingmaterials.

Descriptionofuserstudymethods
AgreatbreakdownoftheEmpathizephasecanbefoundintheweek2reading

Observe.
Viewusersandtheirbehaviorinthecontextoftheirlives.Asmuchaspossibledo
observationsinrelevantcontextsinadditiontointerviews.Someofthemostpowerful
realizationscomefromnoticingadisconnectbetweenwhatsomeonesaysandwhathedoes.
Otherscomefromaworkaroundsomeonehascreatedwhichmaybeverysurprisingtoyouas
thedesigner,butshemaynoteventhinktomentioninconversation.

Engage.
Sometimeswecallthistechniqueinterviewingbutitshouldreallyfeelmorelikea
conversation.Preparesomequestionsyoudliketoask,butexpecttolettheconversation
deviatefromthem.Keeptheconversationonlylooselybounded.Elicitstoriesfromthepeople
youtalkto,andalwaysaskWhy?touncoverdeepermeaning.Engagementcancomethrough
bothshortinterceptencountersandlongerscheduledconversations.

WatchandListen.
Certainlyyoucan,andshould,combineobservationandengagement.Ask
someonetoshowyouhowtheycompleteatask.Havethemphysicallygothroughthesteps,
andtalkyouthroughwhytheyaredoingwhattheydo.Askthemtovocalizewhatsgoing
throughtheirmindastheyperformataskorinteractwithanobject.Haveaconversationinthe
contextofsomeoneshomeorworkplacesomanystoriesareembodiedinartifacts.Usethe
environmenttopromptdeeperquestions.

Followingthismethodology,Iwillobservethecatownersattheirhomesandaskthemtogo
througharecreationofarecentincidentinvolvingtheircatbringinginabird.Iwillaskthemto
describethisprocessincludingtheiremotionsindetailanddocumenttheirresponse.Iwillalso
createtwoseriesofquestions,onefortheownersandoneforthecohabitants,toaskthetarget
usersinordertobuildupresearchandhopefullygettotherootoftheproblem.BoththeHuman
CentredDesignApproachandtheDMAIC(Define,Measure,Analyse,Improve,Control)
processsharethedefinephase.Thoughinthelatteritisthefirststage.Thesequestionswillbe
designedtomeasuretheextentandeffecttheproblemonthepeopleaffectedlives.Iwillmost
likelyconducttheinterviewandrecreationondifferentdaysasthespaceinbetweenmay
providesomeinsight.
Theinterviewswillbeinformal,morelikecasualconversationsandtakeapproximately30
minuteseachalthoughthisnumberisntsetinstone.

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ProcessandFindings

Herearethetwosetsofquestionsandtheiranswers.

Interviewee:KayleighCanning(Owner)

Questions
1. Whatdoyoudowhenyourcatbringsinadeadbird?
a. Why?
2. Whatdoyoudowhenyourcatbringsinalivebird?
a. Why?
3. Howdoeseithereventaffectyourmood?
4. Haveyoutakenanyactiontopreventeitheroftheseevents?ieabellonthecollar?
a. Whateffectdidthishaveontheproblem?
5. Howoftendoesthishappen?
6. Onascaleof1to10,howbigofaproblemisthisforyou?
a. Doyouthinkthatnumberwillincreaseordecreaseovertime?
7. Wouldyoubewillingtopayforasolutiontothisproblem?
a. Ifnot,why?

Answers
1.Trytogetherawayfromitthentrygetridof.
a.Becauseitsupsettingandstressful.
2.Idon'treallyknowwhattodobecauseifIleaveitoutside,anothercatmightgetitbutitcan't
stayinthehouse.Itrytobringitoutsideandletitflyoff.
a.ReallystressedbecauseIdon'tknowifanothercatisgoingtogetit.
3.Stressfulstarttotheday.
4.Abellonthecollarbutitdidn'twork.
a.None
5.Itgoesthroughphases,likeacoupleoftimesaweekthennothing.
6.Whenithappens,it'saround7.
a.Ithinkit'llstaythesameasithappensunexpectedly.
7.Yes.

B00062475CiaranCanning

Interviewee:TomBradley(Cohabitant)

Questions
1. Whatdoyoudowhenyourhousematescatbringsinadeadbird?
a. Why?
2. Whatdoyoudowhenyourhousematescatbringsinalivebird?
a. Why?
3. Howdoeseithereventaffecttheatmosphereinthehouse?
4. Howoftendoesthishappen?
5. Onascaleof1to10,howbigofaproblemisthisforyou?
a. Doyouthinkthatnumberwillincreaseordecreaseovertime?

Answers
1. Nothing,hiscat,hisproblem.
a. Idontmindhelpingoutbutthatsabittoofar.
2. HesabitofawimpsoIusuallyhavetohelphimkeepthecatawayfromitwhilehe
bringsitoutside.
a. BecauseifIdontitlljustendupdead.
3. Itsstressfulatfirstbutifthebirdgetsawaythenwecanlaughaboutitlater.
4. Abouttwoorthreetimesamonth.
5. Whenithappensitsaprettybigproblem,especiallythecleanupafterwards.Also,
theresbeentimeswhenthecathasleftthedeadbirdonthetablewhichisreally
unhygienic.IfIhadtoputanumberonit,itdbe8.
a. WellthecatsonlystartedhuntinginthepastthreemonthssoIdsayitdincrease
whenwintersover.

B00062475CiaranCanning