Understanding Users

Question 1

Shneiderman Golden Rules of Design

Answer 1

Strive for consistency
cater to universal usability
Offer informative feedback
design dialogs to yield closure
prevent errors
permit easy reversale of actions
support internal locus of control
reduce short term memory load

Question 2

How to learn about users

Answer 2

Ethnography or ethnomethodology
- Obervation, participant observation
surverys
interviews
cultural probes
diary studies
prompted studies
task analysis
normans affordances and mappings
models

Question 3

Different types of interviews - name and explain

Answer 3

Structured - fixed possible answers
Semi-structured - list of questions, some open ended, can vary from script, can go out of order
unstructured/conversational - list of topics to cover, transcription is needed

Question 4

Name and explain the three componenets of inquiry design

Answer 4

purpose
- what are you trying to learn
- variables: Independent, enternal, dependent
Population
- demographics
- selection: snowball, convenience, random sampling
mechanics 
- when
where 
how
-interview vs web/email

Question 5

Components/rules for good survey questions (10 commandments)

Answer 5

• no loaded or misleading words
• honour question ordering
• avoid non specific questions
• no unclear or confusing wording
• dont force to answer
• dont adulterate yourvery with non-exhastive listings
• use unbalanced listings skillfully
• avoid double barreled questions
• use dichotomous questions
• use long questions wisely

Question 6

What makes a good survey question

Answer 6

simple
specific
individual
exhaustive
optional 
neutral
balanced

Question 7

How analyse the interview

Answer 7

identify interesting or common phenomena - themes
tie themes together (pre-identified framework: theory driven) or grounded theory approach (emergent theory)
make arguments as to why fits data
make argument as to what the analysis explains

Question 8

What are personas

Answer 8

precise description of a hypotheical user in terms of

• capabilities, inclinations, background
• goals (not tasks)

Question 9

Why persona

Answer 9

easier to generalize about fictional people
general users have many conflicitng goals
specific personas hae clear and well articulated goals

Question 10

How to define and use personas

Answer 10

define

• identify major clusters from interviews
• synthesize goals
• check for completeness and specificity
• develop a narrative and try them out

design each interface for a single primary persona