research driven design
TRANSCRIPT
What is research-driven design?
Research is all about observationof the user...
...so research-driven design is grounded in the user’s reality...
...because we want to give people what they need, which isn’t always
what they want.
Research-Driven Design
Theory-Driven Design
Data-Driven Design
Empirical observation
Derived from theory
Web analytics
It’s all the same thing really
Back in the olden days...
(in the fifties actually)
Intuition vs.
Research
Our theoretical heritage
> Cognitive Psychology
> Experimental Psychology
Welcome our new social science overlords
> Sociology
> Social Psychology
> Anthropology
> even... Marketing
We observe the user...
> Usability Testing
> User Observation
> Contextual Inquiry
> Interviews
> Surveys
> Card Sorting
> Analytics
> Focus Groups
> Etc...
Then we analyze the data...And we draw conclusions
AKA, the “Wheel of Science”
Observation
Generalization
Hypothesis
Theory
Good Times
More trouble than it’s worth
Research is only as much effort as you
make it
In science we talk about “experimental design” — choosing the right methods and
the right samples
Crushes the creative spirit
Research informs design, it doesn’t replace it
We use user research to ground our efforts in reality, and to
validate our choices
Not really scientific at all
Quantitative QualitativeCounts and measures
Qualities and characteristics
Objective Subjective
Neither is more “scientific” than the other
What is “good” research?
> Randomization
> Control
> Reliability
> Validity
> Implementation
> Analysis
> Interpretation
In fact, it’s all just common sense
Actually, that’s not always a bad thing
Just because the results are “common sense” doesn’t mean that the effort is wasted
In fact, many times we want the results to be
common sense
One last thing...
E-Z Design ResearchTM
Someone else has done a lot of work, and we
get use it
Design Guidelines Papers Books
Usability.gov SURL Prioritizing Web Usability
NN/g, UIE, Etc... ACM SIG-CHI Designing Interfaces
But! Be critical of the research you see. Ask yourself if it’s good science.
1. Research-driven design grounds us in
reality
2. Don’t be afraid of the touchy-feely stuff
3. If something is worth doing, it’s worth doing
right
...and design research is worth it!
DC Design TalksFebruary 29, 2008
Yay!