There are multiple ways to approach user research, each with it’s own advantages and pitfalls. As technologies evolve, we are presented with more tools to help us understand the world of our users. If there’s no budget, we can use platforms such as Foursquare as part of a simple diary study. Online surveys reduce barriers faced through offline, and so on.
Peggy Hagen and Natalie Rowland have written a great article outlining how mobile self-reporting can be used to provide greater understanding and insight, and how they can feed into the design process. By allowing users to report in their own environment and on their own terms, we get a rich picture of their world. For the researcher, the ability to prompt specific recordings and ask for clarification is invaluable.
via Johnny Holland
