The aim of this in-depth activity is to practice data gathering. Assume that you have been employed to improve the user experience of an interactive product such as a smartphone app, a digital media...

The aim of this in-depth activity is to practice data gathering. Assume that you have been employed to improve the user experience of an interactive product such as a smartphone app, a digital media player, a Blu-ray player, computer software, or some other type of technology. This existing product may be redesigned, or a completely new product may be created. To do the assignment, find a group of people or a single individual prepared to be the user group. These could be your family, friends, peers, or people in a local community group. For this assignment: (a) Clarify the basic goal of improving the product by considering what this means in your circumstances. (b) Watch the group (or person) casually to get an understanding of any issues that might create challenges for this activity and any information to help refine the study goals. (c) Explain how you would use each of the three data gathering techniques: interview, questionnaire, and observation in your data gathering program. Explain how your plan takes account of triangulation. (d) Consider your relationship with the user group and decide if an informed consent form is required. (Figure 8.1 will help you to design one if needed.) (e) Plan your data gathering program in detail. • Decide what kind of interview to run and design a set of interview questions. Decide how to record the data, then acquire and test any equipment needed and run a pilot study. • Decide whether to include a questionnaire in your data gathering program, and design appropriate questions for it. Run a pilot study to check the questionnaire. • Decide whether to use direct or indirect observation and where on the outsider/insider spectrum should the observers be. Decide how to record the data, then acquire and test any equipment needed and run a pilot study. (f) Carry out the study, but limit its scope. For example, interview only two or three people or plan only two half-hour observation periods. (g) Reflect on this experience and suggest what you would do differently next time. Keep the data gathered, as this will form the basis of the in-depth activity in Chapter 9.