Requirements and needs the users
In this section we will review the different methodologies that can be used to carry out studies with users and we will place special emphasis on the analysis contextual, since it is a methodology that, using observation participant in the user's daily contexts, allows us to approach what that the user really does and the interactions that the user really makes at the time to carry out their tasks. We will also explain how to perform information analysis collection so that we obtain as first results the needs to which The user will expect to respond through the interactive product or service and the requirements that said product or service must satisfy.
Index
1.Collection methodologies of user requirements
Once we have identified and reviewed the product objectives or service and identified to the people who will be part of the design and development team, a project planning that includes, at the beginning, a study and analysis project of the user group defined for this product. But for this there is a step It is essential to define the methodology to be used. In the present section we will find a summary of the different methodologies that we can use in studies with users, as well as the main techniques and technologies that They can help us execute these studies.
1.1.Methodologies quantitative
Indeed, for studies with users we can decide by different methodologies. First of all, we can collect quantitative data about the user, demographic type and social, to help us draw the profile of the user we want to study and to whom we direct the product or service. If we are lucky enough to be able to access the information that large companies usually have about their users, we can use data mining techniques to obtain this knowledge. If not If this is the case, we can also design questionnaires that, analyzed using packages statistics, they will provide us with certain groupings of data that will correspond to certain user profiles.
However, this information, although very useful whenever be statistically significant, is still too superficial to give us qualitative information of importance on the requirements and needs of users. A useful tip is to start by these quantitative analyzes and, once we obtain from them a first approximation to the profiles to which the users correspond, use an approximation qualitative that allows us to delve deeper into your interests, motivations and expectations regarding the product or service that we intend to offer them. As we will already have information very significant on the users to whom the product or service is directed, We will be able to accurately define the characteristics of the sample that we are going to study.
1.2.Methodologies qualitative
The qualitative approach also offers us a diversity collection techniques of data that we can use to obtain information about users. but before Before beginning to delve deeper into them, we must remember that, in addition to obtaining information on the characteristics of potential users, our objective when studying them is threefold: we must collect information about the task they perform and for which our product or service is being designed, the different interactions (with artifacts or with other people) that lead to this effect and the context in which who carry out the task.
The interview
So, let's start with the qualitative technique of collection of information that excellence allows us to obtain data directly from users: it is about the interview. There is extensive literature on the interview technique, so below we will simply limit ourselves to describing the different types of interview that we can use.
Depending on the structure we use when collecting user information We have three different types of interviews: structured interviews, semi-structured interviews and open interviews.
For the interviews structured a is designed closed script of questions with open answers, which we are formulating in a predetermined manner and to which the person responds following the order they we have scheduled.
For the interviews semistructured we design a more open script, with some more general questions, but we try to ensure that the person interviewed is the one who sets the tone for the interview, always ensuring that impressions are collected about all the points marked for the interview.
Finally, in the interviews open no we have a script of questions, but of points that must be addressed by the user throughout the interview. From the introduction of the interview and a first question, the interviewer must ensure that the conversation with the user touch on all the points raised in the interview, but letting the user be the one who sets the guidelines and the order when it comes to touching on the different topics.
The more open an interview is, the richer and Deep is the information we will obtain, since the user will have total freedom to talk about the topics about which they We ask and he will relate them in the way that is meaningful to him, without follow the predetermined script. However, this does not mean that the open interview It should not be previously prepared; On the contrary, open interviews require much more advance preparation and considerable training of the person who is going to conduct the interview.
Focus group
Regarding the number of people interviewed, the interviews are usually divided into individual interviews and group interviews focus groups. As happens with the individual interviews, focus groups They should never last more than two hours; Furthermore, must be done in groups of six to eight people (not counting the interviewer). We must keep in mind that it is not same a group interview as a sum of individual interviews: the information which is obtained in a group interview with eight people who respond to a certain user profile is not equal to the sum of the responses from eight individual interviews, But we obtain the information from their interactions, from the conversation that occurs among the people interviewed. For the focus groups techniques are used group dynamics, which allow us to generate a discussion about the topics we want to investigate. From the analysis of this discussion we will obtain rich and meaningful information about what it represents for users perform a certain task, the use they make of some applications or devices technological in general or for that particular task and the obstacles with which that are usually found when doing that task or using those devices or applications.
We must not forget that what is recommended is –once we have asked the person's permission or people we are going to interview – make a recording of the entirety of the interview. This will provide us with a much more rigorous analysis of the data that which simple paper notes allow.