Comments on: Discovering the Right Tasks Using an Interview-based Approach http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2012/04/30/discovering-the-right-tasks-using-an-interview-based-approach/ UIE\'s latest insights on the world of design Sat, 18 May 2013 00:44:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Mike Pauley http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2012/04/30/discovering-the-right-tasks-using-an-interview-based-approach/comment-page-1/#comment-218145 Mike Pauley Tue, 08 May 2012 16:59:06 +0000 http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/?p=6981#comment-218145 Jared, I remember you or someone else saying something like this before at a UIE Conf - "have the audience help you write the questions." When interviewing and discovering the top tasks of my audience, I was focusing on the broad subjects they were deeming important (very complex subject matter) and paying less attention to the intricacies of their sentence structure and nomenclature. Thanks for the reminder. @mikepauley Jared,

I remember you or someone else saying something like this before at a UIE Conf – “have the audience help you write the questions.”

When interviewing and discovering the top tasks of my audience, I was focusing on the broad subjects they were deeming important (very complex subject matter) and paying less attention to the intricacies of their sentence structure and nomenclature.

Thanks for the reminder.

@mikepauley

]]> By: Fred Beecher http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2012/04/30/discovering-the-right-tasks-using-an-interview-based-approach/comment-page-1/#comment-217220 Fred Beecher Tue, 01 May 2012 11:30:37 +0000 http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/?p=6981#comment-217220 Jared, I can easily see how that would work when testing an existing, fully functional system. Where I struggle with this technique is when it comes to prototype testing. Since prototypes have limited functionality, that limits what we can test. Our designs are based on what we've observed in research, of course, but the spectrum of human experience is such that it is likely that even a prototype well-grounded in research wouldn't be able to cover the situations test participants tell us about. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. Jared, I can easily see how that would work when testing an existing, fully functional system. Where I struggle with this technique is when it comes to prototype testing. Since prototypes have limited functionality, that limits what we can test. Our designs are based on what we’ve observed in research, of course, but the spectrum of human experience is such that it is likely that even a prototype well-grounded in research wouldn’t be able to cover the situations test participants tell us about. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.

]]> By: Samantha LeVan http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2012/04/30/discovering-the-right-tasks-using-an-interview-based-approach/comment-page-1/#comment-217099 Samantha LeVan Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:26:35 +0000 http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/?p=6981#comment-217099 Not only do you have an opportunity to learn how to phrase test tasks, but you have taken the time to put the participant at ease. After they've shared their experiences, the usability test session shouldn't feel so "test-like". Great idea! Not only do you have an opportunity to learn how to phrase test tasks, but you have taken the time to put the participant at ease. After they’ve shared their experiences, the usability test session shouldn’t feel so “test-like”. Great idea!

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