Field studies and diary studies are two research methods that help you learn about your users' real-world context, which is important for good design. They have different advantages and downsides.
Contextual inquiry is a user research method that is helpful to define requirements, improve processes, learn what's important to users, and spark ideas for future projects.
What is the difference between a field study, an ethnographic study, and a contextual inquiry in a user experience design project? Not much. The main difference is that between field methods and lab-based user research.
Field visits are ideal for UX research since we observe users in their natural environment. But what if you can't get into the users' home or office? Remote methods can work.
To solve big-scale design problems, Don Norman recommends engaging with the community that has these problems and leveraging existing creativity and experience.
Customer visits and other field studies to observe users in their natural habitat are one of the most important user research methods. This video covers the 4 basic steps to prepare and carry out ethnographic-style research, preferably early in the UX design process.
When conducting research for customer-journey maps, use qualitative methods that allow direct interaction with or observation of users, such as interviews, field studies, and diary studies.
Field studies observe how people interact with interfaces in their own environment. Real-world contexts reveal behaviors for which you might not be aware.
Don’t just do usability tests. Do what you need. Consider five criteria to help you determine the most effective UX research method to use for your situation, to meet research goals, and achieve desired outcomes.
