Heads up! To view this whole video, sign in with your Courses account or enroll in your free 7-day trial. Sign In Enroll
Preview
Start a free Courses trial
to watch this video
What to Look For
5:00 with Tomer SharonThe hardest thing to do during field observation is paying attention to everything that is going on in front of your eyes.
This video doesn't have any notes.
Related Discussions
Have questions about this video? Start a discussion with the community and Treehouse staff.
Sign upRelated Discussions
Have questions about this video? Start a discussion with the community and Treehouse staff.
Sign up
The hardest thing to do during field
observation is paying attention to
0:00
everything that is going on infront of
your eyes.
0:05
You might not realize it,
0:08
but observing human behavior generates
tons of rich data.
0:09
It is sometimes challenging to notice when
something important happens.
0:13
The goals you have set for user research
guide you in what to look for.
0:18
Focus on things related to your goals.
0:23
When you're observing a study participant,
look for the following occurrences.
0:26
Routines, things that seem as regular
actions the participant is following.
0:31
For example, each time a new work related
task comes up,
0:37
the participant logs it in on a
spreadsheet he or she has created.
0:41
Interactions, when a study participant
uses a certain product, tool or
0:47
service, or when he or she converses with
another person.
0:51
For example, when a study participant
doesn't understand a certain word he or
0:55
she uses an online dictionary to figure it
out.
1:00
Interruptions.
1:04
When a study participant stops a task, or
breaks its continuity,
1:05
either because he or she decided to, or
because another person causes it.
1:09
For example, when a phone call comes in
and
1:14
diverts the study participant from what
they're doing.
1:17
Note that it is intuitive to ignore these
interruptions, yet
1:21
in many cases they can teach you a lot.
1:24
Life is not always clean of interruptions,
so we must understand them.
1:27
Shortcuts, when a study participant
chooses a shorter alternative,
1:34
it is an indication of a small problem to
pay attention to.
1:38
For example, when instead of writing
something down,
1:42
a participant takes a pen and marks an x
on the back of their hand.
1:46
Contexts, when a certain action or
behavior is demonstrated in
1:52
a different manner because of the
environment in which it happens.
1:56
For example, when a participant doesn't
take a note on their
2:00
smartphone because of direct sunlight that
makes it hard to see anything they type.
2:04
Habits, behaviors participants demonstrate
that are almost automatic.
2:09
For example, scribbling something with a
pen to make sure it works,
2:16
even though it is brand new.
2:20
Rituals, a behavior that is being followed
based on
2:23
a series of actions according to a
specific order.
2:27
For example, when a participant wants to
delete something in a digital note or
2:30
list, they locate the cursor in the end of
the text they wish to delete,
2:36
then use a backspace button to delete each
and every character individually.
2:41
Jargon.
2:47
Paying attention to the unique language
people use when they do or
2:48
talk about different things is extremely
helpful in empathizing with them and
2:52
uncovering their needs.
2:57
It prevents you from using language users
don't
2:59
understand in your product or service.
3:02
Annoyances.
3:05
Annoyances are obstacles that stand in the
way of people to completing their task, or
3:07
meeting their goals.
3:11
They would not prevent them from reaching
their goals, but they'll make them angry,
3:13
frustrated, overwhelmed, or disappointed
along the way.
3:17
Delights, the things people enjoy can
teach you a lot about what they need.
3:22
Many people perceive research as an
activity that uncovers problems
3:28
and frustrations.
3:32
That's partially true.
3:34
Uncovering things that delight and work
well for
3:35
users can go a long way into developing
great products.
3:39
Transitions, when people move from place
to place it's a great time for
3:43
them to share things that might become
invaluable,
3:49
especially when they think research
sessions are over.
3:53
For example, if you observe someone taking
notes in a certain classroom,
3:57
pay extra attention to what happens when
the class is over, and
4:02
until you go separate ways with the
participant.
4:06
Artifacts.
4:10
Artifacts are tools, services, products,
and
4:12
any other thing that people use to
complete tasks.
4:15
Your job is to pay attention to the usage
of artifacts, and
4:18
if possible, collect or document them.
4:22
For example, if a person is taking notes
while using a Livescribe pen and
4:25
notebook, that's an important artifact to
take note of, no pun intended.
4:31
That's a lot to track and digest during
field observation.
4:38
You need a lot of practice to get it
right.
4:42
Don't worry though, even if you miss a few
things, you still get to learn so
4:44
much valuable lessons and it'll get better
in time.
4:49
Next, you will do just that, practice a
field observation.
4:54
You need to sign up for Treehouse in order to download course files.
Sign upYou need to sign up for Treehouse in order to set up Workspace
Sign up