CGT 512 Assignment: USER RESEARCH PLAN Learning objectives: Upon completing this assignment you will be able

to: Create appropriate and realistic user research goals Make useful choices for data collection and sampling that balance your research needs with feasibility Outline a basic research design Remember: Half the solution is in the problem. So, read this assignment description carefully.

ASSIGNMENT STEPS: 1. Determine your research GOAL What information do you hope to learn about your users? What can you get out of this research? Remember, users are not designers. They cannot tell you what to do. However: You can gain a deep understanding of your users lives and context. Do the background work: What part of your users lives and context are you interested in? What area are you trying to contribute to and improve? E.G. improve their bar experience, their learning experience, their news consumption experience. Remember that a solid understanding of the problem, client and market are a prerequisite step to research planning! Your research goal can come only after you have done this!

Understand the problem, the client & the market

Plan user research

Conduct user research

Analyze data

Create Personas, Scenarios, Design Requirements

2. Create your Research Design For this assignment, you need to figure out the following: a. Data collection method(s) what method(s) will you use for collecting data (e.g. contextual inquiry, interviewing, observation, etc.)? Include a brief explanation why the chosen method(s) are appropriate to address your research goal within the limitations of time and resources we have this semester. b. Sampling who are the people you will collect data from? Where can you find them? How can you find them? How can you approach them and ask them to help you out? Be very specific here. GPS users is a wrong answer. students and faculty on the 3rd floor in Knoy who own a GPS is a better answer. Outline

each and every step you will take to identify these people and recruit them to participate in your research. Also, explain why these people are appropriate for your research. They might not be your exact user group they might be the next best thing. Be creative. But make an argument about why this choice makes sense in light of your research goal and the time & resource limitations we have this semester. 3. Write up the plan Your document should have a title and include all team members names. It should have the following headings: 1. 2. 3. 4. Research goal Data collection methods Sampling (optional) Questions for the professor

EVALUATION AND GRADING The Research Plan is part of your first big report in this class, the User Research Report. The Research Plan is worth 2 points out of the total 10 points for the User Research Report. An Excellent Research Plan: is grounded in the background work about the problem, client, and market articulates a clear, appropriate and feasible research goal provides clear and convincing arguments about the appropriateness of each and every choice you made (goal, data collection, sampling)

HOW TO SUBMIT One document per team, on Blackboard, no later that Sept. 18 by 5:30 pm.