• The 4 Phases
    • All Methods
    • Phase 1Observation
      • 5 Whys
      • 6 Thinking Hats
      • AEIOU Framework
      • Card Sorting
      • Content Audit
      • Contextual Inquiry Plan
      • Crazy Eights
      • Empathy Map
      • Focus Groups
      • Future Trends
      • How Might We
      • Hypothesis Testing
      • Jobs-to-be-done (JTBD)
      • Journey Mapping
      • Lessons Learned
      • Mind Mapping
      • Moodboards
      • Mystery Shopping
      • Netnography
      • Observation
      • Personas
      • Poems
      • Poster Session
      • Product Love Letters
      • Stakeholder Map
      • Surveys
      • World Café
    • Phase 2Creation
      • 6 Thinking Hats
      • 6-3-5 Brainwriting
      • Bodystorming
      • Brainstorming
      • Business Model Canvas (BMC)
      • Card Sorting
      • Challenge Assumptions
      • Click Dummy
      • Could, Should, Must
      • Crazy Eights
      • Dark Horse Prototype
      • Emotional Journey Map
      • Empathy Map
      • Focus Groups
      • How Might We
      • Hypothesis Testing
      • Innovation Board
      • Jobs-to-be-done (JTBD)
      • Journey Mapping
      • Low-Fidelity Prototyping
      • Mind Mapping
      • Mobile Diaries
      • Moodboards
      • Personas
      • Poster Session
      • Product Love Letters
      • SCAMPER
      • Stakeholder Map
      • Storyboards
      • Surveys
      • SWOT Analysis
      • User Testing
      • Value Proposition
      • Wizard of Oz
      • World Café
    • Phase 3Implementation
      • A/B Testing
      • Business Model Canvas (BMC)
      • Could, Should, Must
      • Innovation Board
      • Low-Fidelity Prototyping
      • Mobile Diaries
      • Product Love Letters
      • Storyboards
      • SWOT Analysis
      • User Interviews
      • User Stories
    • Phase 4Validation
      • A/B Testing
      • Concept Testing Plan
      • Contextual Inquiry Plan
      • Hypothesis Testing
      • Innovation Board
      • KPI Tracking
      • SCAMPER
      • Surveys
      • User Interviews
      • User Stories
      • User Testing
    • About us
  • UXSD Team
  • Liquid Design System
  1. UX Toolkit
  2. Methods
  3. Contextual Inquiry Plan
beginnerobservationvalidation
Contextual Inquiry PlanPlan and organize when, where, and who is to be observed to obtain information.
30 - 120 min3 - 10 Participantsworkshopsoloplanning
+5
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Summary
Before a particular group of people is being observed, it is documented what the goal of the observation is and when or where it takes place. During the observation, notes are made about how people behave and how they interact with other people or things, such as products. The findings are then discussed and captured.
Step-by-step
  1. Plan the observation. Who do you want to observe? Where? When? What are the goals I want to meet?
  2. Perform and document the observation. Use the Contextual Inquiry Plan to keep track of your observations.
  3. Summarize and question the findings. Do they match with your KPIs, that you defined in the first step?
What you need
  • Contextual Inquiry Plan
  • Notebook
  • Pen
External resources
  • Contextual Enquiry
    by UX Mastery
Do you have a question?
These methods might seem simple, but applying them in a real project is another story. We’re there to help. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to get in touch with us at the User Experience Strategy & Design team.
Ask Away!
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