beginnerobservation
5 WhysThis is a very simple method for digging deep into the mind and background of users and their behaviour.
5 – 15 min1 – 2 Participantsworkshopusersanalogue
+3
Summary
As the title of this method already is very self-explanatory, you will ask the question “why” five times to the person you are talking to. Each time you ask “why”, you are forcing the re-evaluation of the position of your dialogue partner. While it may feel odd at first, you will soon reach the root (causes) of their behaviours.
Step-by-step
  1. Listen carefully to what is being said.
  2. Ask "why” to question the statement of your counterpart that you just heard. This question encourages to think more carefully about what is the cause of a topic or problem.
  3. Repeat the same question five times to get deeper into the problem.
What you need
  • Paper
  • Pen
External resources
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.
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