Human Centered Research Methods
This page includes some examples of a variety of qualitative and quantitative research projects I have completed in both the Generative and Evaluative phases of the product development life-cycle.
Generative Research
1:1 Discovery Interviews
This qualitative method used to gather information about the users in the early stages of the Design process. This method allows us to uncover insights into the end user's attitudes, aptitudes, and behaviors. Insights about these topics help designers make the best possible choice about the designs and prevent re-work in the future.
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Contextual inquiry
This qualitative method is used to gain insights into what people do and how they complete tasks relevant to the product. Through a combination of fly-on-the-wall and direct questioning we can find out what types of tasks people do, how they accomplish those tasks, and how their environment impacts their ability to accomplish those tasks.
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Open Card Sorting
This quantitative method used to understand how people group information and assign labels to those groups. This method is primarily used in the early stages of an Information Architecture project. It enables us to see how items on the website or app should be grouped in order to provided the most intuitive experience for end users.
Evaluative Research
Moderated Concept Testing
A qualitative method used in the early stages of the product-development lifecycle to test prototypes of visual designs with end users to determine if the designs are easy to use, intuitive, and meet the end user's needs by digging deeply into the mental models of the end users
Unmoderated Usability Testing
A quantitative method used at various stages of the product development life cycle as a quick test to gauge if a digital experience or section of a digital experience is usable by a large sample of potential end users
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Surveys
A quantitative method used at different stages of the product development life cycle to get answers to specific questions from a large population of end users
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Closed card Sorting
A quantitative method used to assess if end users associate specified items with established categories. It enables us to understand if the informational schema matches the mental model of end users
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Tree Testing
A quantitative method used to determine if a website's navigational structure is reflective of the end user's mental model
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