Discussion
We discussed the different methods of data gathering and which method is best suited for our project.
Interviews are useful when in need for qualitative data, while questionnaires are more efficient at gathering quantitative data.
We concluded that qualitative data is what we need; we want the opinion and ideas of the users in order to come up with a relevant project for our target group.
Observations also allows us to gather qualitative data, and can be used as well. The difference between interviews and observations is that interviews provide information about what the user believes he wants or how he interacts, while observations gives us data in what the user actually wants or how it interacts.
Instead of choosing between them, we found it to be a sound idea to use both methods for our initial data gathering.
There are different kinds of interviews and observations. Since our focus is to gather ideas and opinions, a completely structured interview is the last thing we need - we will instead use an semi-tructured interview.
The observations can either be performed in direct or indirect fashion. The direct approach focus on how well a subject performs to complete a specific task. However one has to consider, that they know, they are being observed and that, therefore, their performance might be influenced by that knowledge. The indirect approach reveals how the user would actually solve a task, and captures details that would otherwise go unnoticed (e.g. most users are in a hurry or staring at their phone in the target environment and doesn't pay attention to text in the interface, which would never happen in a direct observation).
Speaking of environment: to make sure that any observed data is authentic we should gather data for different times of the day or locations.
Interviews are useful when in need for qualitative data, while questionnaires are more efficient at gathering quantitative data.
We concluded that qualitative data is what we need; we want the opinion and ideas of the users in order to come up with a relevant project for our target group.
Observations also allows us to gather qualitative data, and can be used as well. The difference between interviews and observations is that interviews provide information about what the user believes he wants or how he interacts, while observations gives us data in what the user actually wants or how it interacts.
Instead of choosing between them, we found it to be a sound idea to use both methods for our initial data gathering.
There are different kinds of interviews and observations. Since our focus is to gather ideas and opinions, a completely structured interview is the last thing we need - we will instead use an semi-tructured interview.
The observations can either be performed in direct or indirect fashion. The direct approach focus on how well a subject performs to complete a specific task. However one has to consider, that they know, they are being observed and that, therefore, their performance might be influenced by that knowledge. The indirect approach reveals how the user would actually solve a task, and captures details that would otherwise go unnoticed (e.g. most users are in a hurry or staring at their phone in the target environment and doesn't pay attention to text in the interface, which would never happen in a direct observation).
Speaking of environment: to make sure that any observed data is authentic we should gather data for different times of the day or locations.
Summary
- We want qualitative data rather than quantitative data
- To collect the data, we want to use different data gathering methods (methodology triangulation ): unstructured interviews and observations (we've not decided if we want to use direct or indirect observations)
- We also want to use data triangulation , meaning getting data from diffrent information sources (people) at difrent times and places to be able to identify diffrent problems.
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