1. Task Analysis and Contextual Inquiry
CS 160 Discussion Section
February 7, 2006

2. Interview Video Carlo, Mareesa, and Jessica
[0:51~5:00] Introduction
Give purpose of visit, and then do general background information
Participants start volunteering information about technology use
[1:03:42-1:05:30] Learning about office computer setup
Ask questions for clarification
Prompted by things in the environment (ask about them!)
[1:08:46-1:09:25] Managing digital photos
[1:12:29-1:14:40] Scrapbooking
Mareesa describes her scrapbook; she and Carlo articulate why paper scrapbooks are better than digital scrapbooks
[1:16:04-1:17:00] PDA use
Mareesa describes why she doesn’t use her PDA

3. Contextual Inquiry Tips
Should be performed in teams, not by individual team members
Interviewers: Different perspectives help create better understanding of users
Note-taker: Record interesting events to look at later
Photo, tape recorder, video
Try out different roles in each interview

4. Contextual Inquiry Tips
Use time after interview to analyze info and refocus for next interview
Refocusing includes choosing subsequent interviewees
Select interviewees who can develop our understanding of the users, their tasks and work contexts
Karen Holtzblatt and Sandra Jones. “Conducting and Analyzing a Contextual Interview,” in Schuler and Namioka, Participatory Design: Principles and Practices, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1993.

5. Contextual Inquiry Tips
Make preliminary notes to focus interviews
Clarify notes with interviewees
If they use computers, ask what workarounds they resort to
Don’t talk all the time
Resume with interviewee’s words or thoughts if interrupt at an inconvenient time
Karen Holtzblatt and Sandra Jones. “Conducting and Analyzing a Contextual Interview,” in Schuler and Namioka, Participatory Design: Principles and Practices, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1993.

6. Task Analysis Tips Use the questions from lecture
Easiest to work from transcripts
Team analysis of interview transcripts
Saves time in the long run
Builds team ownership
Come out with a clear understanding of the group’s focus
Karen Holtzblatt and Sandra Jones. “Conducting and Analyzing a Contextual Interview,” in Schuler and Namioka, Participatory Design: Principles and Practices, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1993.

7. Task Analysis Tips
Analyzing results is not the same as picking a final design
Don’t skip “ludicrous” ideas immediately
Don’t structure/categorize too early
Consider affinity diagrams (
Use and reuse the interviewees’ language
May need to validate interpretation with original interviewee
Karen Holtzblatt and Sandra Jones. “Conducting and Analyzing a Contextual Interview,” in Schuler and Namioka, Participatory Design: Principles and Practices, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1993.

8. Practice Task Analysis Some Potential Task Domains
Waiter/Waitress
Airline ticket agent
Bus driver
Car salesperson
Newspaper editor
Vacation planning

9. Practice Task Analysis The Task Analysis Questions
Who is going to use system?
What tasks do they now perform? (specify easy, medium, and hard tasks)
What tasks are desired?
How are the tasks learned?
Where are the tasks performed?
What’s the relationship between user & data?
What other tools does the customer have?
How do customers communicate with each other?
How often are the tasks performed?
What are the time constraints on the tasks?
What happens when things go wrong?

10. Administrivia
VisualStudio 2005 and the Windows Mobile 5.0 SDK are installed in Soda 330
Online assignment submission
Does anyone need help finding interview participants?
Thanks to Matthew Kam for some of the slides…