• The 4 Phases
  • All Methods
    • Phase 1Observation
      • 5 Whys
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      • AEIOU Framework
      • Card Sorting
      • Collage
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      • Content Audit
      • Contextual Inquiry Plan
      • Crazy Eights
      • Eisenhower Matrix
      • Empathy Map
      • Field Study
      • Focus Groups
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      • How Might We
      • Hypothesis Testing
      • Jobs-to-be-done (JTBD)
      • Journey Mapping
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      • Lessons Learned
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      • Mind Mapping
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      • Observation
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      • Poems
      • Poster Session
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    • Phase 2Creation
      • 6 Thinking Hats
      • 6-3-5 Brainwriting
      • Bodystorming
      • Brainstorming
      • Business Model Canvas (BMC)
      • Card Sorting
      • Challenge Assumptions
      • Click Dummy
      • Collage
      • Could, Should, Must
      • Crazy Eights
      • Dark Horse Prototype
      • Eisenhower Matrix
      • Emotional Journey Map
      • Empathy Map
      • Field Study
      • Focus Groups
      • How Might We
      • Hypothesis Testing
      • Innovation Board
      • Jobs-to-be-done (JTBD)
      • Journey Mapping
      • Knowns and Unknowns Framework
      • Low-Fidelity Prototyping
      • Mental Models
      • Mind Mapping
      • Mobile Diaries
      • Moodboards
      • One-Minute-Pitch
      • Personas
      • Pluralistic Walkthrough
      • Poster Session
      • Product Love Letters
      • Remote Usability Test
      • SCAMPER
      • Service Blueprints
      • Stakeholder Map
      • Storyboards
      • Surveys
      • SWOT Analysis
      • User Testing
      • Value Proposition
      • Walt Disney Method
      • Wizard of Oz
      • World Café
      • Worst Possible Ideas
      • Wow-How-Now Matrix
    • Phase 3Implementation
      • A/B Testing
      • Business Model Canvas (BMC)
      • Could, Should, Must
      • Eye Tracking
      • Golden Circle
      • High-Fidelity Prototype
      • Innovation Board
      • Low-Fidelity Prototyping
      • Mobile Diaries
      • One-Minute-Pitch
      • Pluralistic Walkthrough
      • Product Love Letters
      • Remote Usability Test
      • Service Blueprints
      • Storyboards
      • SWOT Analysis
      • User Interviews
      • User Stories
    • Phase 4Validation
      • A/B Testing
      • Competitive Analysis
      • Concept Testing Plan
      • Contextual Inquiry Plan
      • Eye Tracking
      • HEART Framework
      • High-Fidelity Prototype
      • Hypothesis Testing
      • Innovation Board
      • KPI Tracking
      • One-Minute-Pitch
      • Pluralistic Walkthrough
      • Remote Usability Test
      • SCAMPER
      • Search-Log Analysis
      • Service Blueprints
      • Social Media Monitoring
      • Surveys
      • User Interviews
      • User Stories
      • User Testing
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  1. UX Toolkit
  2. Methods
  3. Observation
beginnerobservation
ObservationReal insights from users in their natural environment.
30 – 180 min1+ Participantssoloreviewanalogue
+3
Open in FigJamOpen in Miro
Summary
Going to the users and taking a close look at their routines and regular environment can provide insights into hurdles and obstacles they are facing but not necessarily are aware of. This is a very intimate exercise in which you are required to stay in the background and not distract your participants from doing their tasks. It is important to let them feel as unwatched as possible.
Step-by-step
  1. Ask for a (written) recording permission. Since you might be recording sensitive material from their working environment.
  2. Remind your test candidates to work just like everyday. Remember to stay in the background ("fly on the wall”).
  3. Take note of all performed tasks, problems, successes, and failures. It is important to observe the little details that are too subtle or maybe also too obvious to be recognized by the test candidates themselves.
  4. If you want to ask questions, try not to ask them in a way that interrupts their workflows. Instead, wait for a good moment (e.g. a break) to ask your questions.
  5. Review and interpret your notes afterwards. It makes sense to go through your documentation together with your test candidate and try to understand the background or context. Share these with your team and discuss your findings.
What you need
  • Camera
  • Pens
  • Paper
External resources
  • Research Methods: Observations (Sociology Theory & Methods)
    by tutor2u
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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