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Unit 9: User Studies

9.1.6 User Study Techniques Applied to the Design of Labscape Notes
In this, we discuss how two user study techniques helped us design Labscape: intensive interviewing
and contextual field research (CFR). To design Labscape, we needed to gain a general understanding
of the biologists’ work and environment. We also needed answers to some specific questions. In
particular, we were interested in learning whether computing should be distributed throughout the
environment, carried by the user, or a combination of the two. In addition, we wanted to know where,
how, and why biologists accessed and recorded information during experiments.
We started with intensive interviewing, as it is a relatively fast way to obtain a lot of information.
Because we also intended to use CFR, intensive interviewing allowed us to establish a rapport with
the biologists, learn the rules of the biology laboratory, and get an idea of what we would observe.
The interviews were conducted at CSI and at Intel Research Seattle. For the interviews conducted at
Intel Research Seattle, a floor plan of the biology laboratory and dozens of photos of the laboratory,
tools, and equipment were available for reference purposes. Before we finished the interviews, we
started CFR.Notes were taken to capture data for both studies; in addition, audio recordings were
made of the interviews, and still photographs were taken during the CFR. Most of the results
discussed below came from a combination of the two techniques.

Self Assessment

State whether the following statements are true or false:
5. Labscape is a ubiquitous laboratory assistant that satisfies these information needs with
distracting biologists from their work.
6. To design Labscape, we needed to gain a general understanding of the biologists’ work and
environment.

9.2 Summary

• Good methods for studying user behavior and user needs can and should be shared; however,
user needs are shaped by a variety of local factors. Replicating user studies at the local level
can provide information for improving existing services or developing new ones.
• Contextual field research (CFR) is a technique for gathering qualitative data by observing
and interacting with users as they go about their normal activities.
• Usability testing is a technique for gathering empirical data by observing users as they perform
tasks with the application that is being evaluated.

9.3 Keywords

User Study Techniques : User Study Techniques are appropriate for different stages in the
development of an application.
Contextual Field Research (CFR) : Contextual Field Research is typically used to discover how users
think and act rather than to test preformulated hypothesis.
Intensive Interviewing : Intensive interviewing can be a good technique to use when
combined with observational techniques.

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