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Contextual Interview

Shahnewaz A. Jolly

CPSC 681: Research Methods in Human Computer InteractionInstructor: Dr. Saul Greenberg

Date: November 4, 2009

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Presentation Outline

Structure of a Contextual Interview

Analyzing Interview Information

Benefits and Problems

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Structure of a Contextual Interview

Introduction

Field interview

Wrap-up

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Introduction

Establishing Relationship

Focus of the Interview

Assurance about Confidentiality

Interview Schedule and Procedure

Permission for Recording

Asking for Opinion about the system

Natural Interruptions and Movement

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Field Interview

Observation and Discussion

Interruption

Taking Notes

Recording Information

Collecting Artifacts

Sharing design ideas

Drawing physical workplace

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Wrap-up

Summarizing and Validating our ideas

Giving tips on system use

Asking them whether we can contact them

later for further information

Telling them that they can contact us if

they find more information

Thanking the users

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Analyzing Interview Information

Preparing Team Room

Transcribing the Interview

Fixing and Evolving the Focus of Analysis

Interpreting the Information

Recording Understandings

Structuring the Understanding

Sharing Session

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Preparing Team Room

Permanent or Temporary Place

Required Equipments Computer with required software Projector or large monitor Flipchart to capture work models or team

discussions Red, blue and green color pens for

capturing models

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Transcribing the Interview

Fresh in memory

Reviewing interview

Including comments, insights and

questions

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Fixing and Evolving the Focus of Analysis

Clarifying the focus at the beginning

Deciding what to include and exclude based on

the focus

Looking for answers from the transcript

Validation of interpretation of post-interview

analysis

Review of the question for setting next entering

focus

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Interpreting the Information

Changing focus, revealing of different

aspects

Reading transcript text and sharing design

ideas

Developing an integrated understanding of

user work

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Interpreting the Information (cont.)

Gathered knowledge is reusable

Framework Work structure or work flow

Problems doing the work using the system

Disruptions caused by the system

Workarounds that are used to avoid disruptions

Transparency of the system

Aspects of work process and system use that

support work

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Recording Understanding

o Coding scheme

o Post-its or note card

o Reviewing interview one at a time

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Recording Understanding (cont.)

Description of users’ work

Flow or structure of the work

Description of problems of work and with

the computer tools

Design ideas from the understanding of

their work

Questions for following interviews

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Structuring the Understanding

Dividing the Post-its

Systematically grouping Post-its

Affinity Diagram

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Affinity Diagram

Source: www.baran-systems.com

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Sharing Session

Team members

Stakeholders

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Benefits of Arranging Contextual Interview

Multiple interviewers

Different perspective

If recording permission is not available

Setting focus – deciding which information to include and which to exclude

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Problems of Arranging Contextual Interview

Real Workplace

Time Limitation

Wrong Person

No-show User

Recording Permission

Multiple interviewers – reduces the number

of interview

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Benefits of Conducting Contextual Interview

Idea about the real use

More information from observation and

interview

Questions are not preset – detail information

can be collected

Interruption – helps in gaining the focus

Sharing idea – validates the understanding

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Problems of Conducting Contextual Interview

More focus on conversation than activities

Getting more information – reaches

overload point

Current activity may not be helpful

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Benefits of Analyzing Contextual Interview Information

Transcript helps to analyze

Fixing and evolving focus helps to set

entering focus for next interviews

Interpreted information is reusable

Reusable information provides us a proper

idea about the using of the system

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Benefits of Analyzing Contextual Interview Information (cont.)

Recording understanding helps to recall the

interview idea later

Sharing session

Team members missed interpretation

session

Sharing interpreted information with

management or stakeholders

Adding missing information to the models

or Affinity diagrams

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Problems of Analyzing Contextual Interview Information

Getting room for analysis

Transcribing is time consuming

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Worked-through Example

System – Internet Explorer

Users – Students

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Arranging Interview

Talking to the school management

Setting focus to get users’ problems

Asking permission for using lab and

recording

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Conducting Interview

Introduction with the users

Informing them about the interview focus,

schedule and procedures

Setting up the recorders

Asking for their opinion about this browser

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Conducting Interview (Cont.)

Asking to perform regular tasks

Observing them

Asking questions about the tasks and

problems

Gaining the focus if the conversation is out

of track

Sharing understandings

Thanking them

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Analyzing Information

Preparing room Transcribing interview information Fix our focus Using Post-its method Recording understandings Using Affinity diagram Sharing session

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Bibliography

1. Holtzblatt, K., Wendell, J. B., Wood, S. Rapid Contextual

Design: A How-to Guide to Key Techniques for User-

Centered Design. Morgan Kaufmann. 1st Edition. 2004

2. Baecker, R. M., Grudin, J., Buxton, W., Greenberg, S.

Readings in Human-Computer Interaction: Toward the Year

2000. Morgan Kaufmann. 2nd Edition. 1995

3. Beyer, H., Holtzblatt, K. Contextual Design: Defining

Customer-Centered Systems. Morgan Kaufmann. 1st

Edition. 1997

4. Larusdottir, M. K. Using Rapid Contextual Design at

Reykjavik University. “HCIEd.2006-1 inventivity: Teaching

theory, design and innovation in HCI” workshop. 2006

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Thank you.Questions?