Students observe one or more users to gain insight into their behavior in specific situations.
The method helps train students’ ability to put themselves in others’ shoes and better understand their behavior.
Students define their purpose of the observation, what they want to learn more about. They write down the purpose, for example as a problem statement or a question they wish to answer through their observations.
Students identify which types of users would be relevant to observe in order to answer the problem statement. They can consider various relevant characteristics of the users, such as age, interests, or experience, depending on their focus.
Ask the students to consider where the users can best be observed to gain insight into their behavior. This could be, for example, in a cafeteria, a public library, or a store.
The students decide how they will document their observations, for example by taking notes, photos, and/or videos. They create a checklist of what they want to focus on during their observations, including actions, surroundings, time spent, and other relevant aspects.
They visit a relevant observation site and ask for permission to conduct observations. The students observe the selected users’ behavior and describe the observed behavior in short statements, and possibly also by taking photos or videos (with the users’ permission).
The students review their notes and any visual materials to ensure that all observations have been documented accurately and thoroughly.
Didactic tips
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Optionally, use the User Observation method before the observation to help students generate ideas about possible users.
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Optionally, use the User Observation method after the observation to support students in identifying patterns that can provide insight into the users’ needs or problems.
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Students can try to put themselves in the users’ shoes by acting as the users themselves, for example through role play, and then reflect on their experiences.
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Students can conduct follow-up conversations with selected users they have observed. They can read the observations back to the users and ask for their reactions. The students then write down the users’ responses.
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If live observations are not possible, students can also observe behavior in videos.
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This method is used, among other things, in activity XXX