Interpretive research methods often pose considerable challenges for the systems analyst and interaction designing. Knowing what to look for, to ask, to observe and record is hard enough. Knowing how to analyze, categorize, distill and present complex, entangled, messy qualitative data is also a challenge.
The IDEO method cards are an aide, to help break the impasse if the analyst gets stuck deciding what method to use or adapt for field studies and requirements gathering (IDEO, 2003). IDEO’s method cards are grouped into four categories: Learn, Look, Ask, and Try. Observational techniques are suggested by the Look category. The objective in this case is the uncover insights and understanding into what users actually do as they go about achieving their goals. The following table summarizes the Look category (Table below).
Table: IDEO 'Look' techniques (IDEO, 2003)
LOOK
| Research Method | Description |
|---|---|
| A Day in the Life | Catalogue a person’s whole day without necessarily focusing on project relevant aspects. |
| Behavioural Archaeology | Look at use, wear, the detailed arrangement or organisation of use objects in their use setting. |
| Behavioural Mapping | Map position, movement, and use of space over time. |
| Fly on the Wall | Observe in context without interfering. |
| Guided Tours | Ask the user to guide you through project relevant spaces and activities. |
| Personal Inventory | Ask the user to reflect on and describe the things they view as important or significant |
| Rapid Ethnography | Participate and experience it first-hand with the user for as long as possible. |
| Shadowing | Tag-along with people through the day. |
| Social Network Mapping | Notice the relationships between people, groups. Look for identity, profession, culture, and connections. |
| Still Photo Survey | Build up a visual record of key use and interaction moments over time. |
| Time-Lapse Video | A way of summarising activity over time, use of time, space, and location. |
The cards are used as prompts for researchers involved in field studies. They also provide a shared language for research teams and their customers (users, designers, developers) undergoing the process of designing research protocols for fieldwork.
