1 Contextual Interview Shahnewaz A. Jolly CPSC 681: Research Methods in Human Computer Interaction Instructor: Dr. Saul Greenberg Date: November 4, 2009

2 Presentation Outline  Structure of a Contextual Interview  Analyzing Interview Information  Benefits and Problems

3 Structure of a Contextual Interview  Introduction  Field interview  Wrap-up

4 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

5 Field Interview  Observation and Discussion  Interruption  Taking Notes  Recording Information  Collecting Artifacts  Sharing design ideas  Drawing physical workplace

6 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

7 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

8 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

9 Transcribing the Interview  Fresh in memory  Reviewing interview  Including comments, insights and questions

10 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

11 Interpreting the Information  Changing focus, revealing of different aspects  Reading transcript text and sharing design ideas  Developing an integrated understanding of user work

12 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

13 Recording Understanding o Coding scheme o Post-its or note card o Reviewing interview one at a time

14 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

15 Structuring the Understanding  Dividing the Post-its  Systematically grouping Post-its  Affinity Diagram

16 Affinity Diagram Source:

17 Sharing Session  Team members  Stakeholders

18 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

19 Problems of Arranging Contextual Interview Real Workplace Time Limitation Wrong Person No-show User Recording Permission Multiple interviewers – reduces the number of interview

20 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

21 Problems of Conducting Contextual Interview More focus on conversation than activities Getting more information – reaches overload point Current activity may not be helpful

22 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

23 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

24 Problems of Analyzing Contextual Interview Information Getting room for analysis Transcribing is time consuming

25 Worked-through Example System – Internet Explorer Users – Students

26 Arranging Interview  Talking to the school management  Setting focus to get users’ problems  Asking permission for using lab and recording

27 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

28 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

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

30 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 Baecker, R. M., Grudin, J., Buxton, W., Greenberg, S. Readings in Human-Computer Interaction: Toward the Year Morgan Kaufmann. 2nd Edition Beyer, H., Holtzblatt, K. Contextual Design: Defining Customer-Centered Systems. Morgan Kaufmann. 1st Edition Larusdottir, M. K. Using Rapid Contextual Design at Reykjavik University. “HCIEd inventivity: Teaching theory, design and innovation in HCI” workshop. 2006

31 Thank you. Questions?