These tips will greatly improve your UX research!
I’ve spotted a lack of information about topics such as user experience (UX) out there and thought to myself “Hey, I worked in this area for a year, I should fill that gap! If not me, who?”
Here’s the first article in my tutorial series (653 more to go)
Feel like you’re wasting time on user interviews that never reveal anything? Users not keen to talk, not willing to get to the bottom of the issues? Need more background information to uncover unexpected insights? Here are a few fast and effective methods.
Recruitment
First thing, I KNOW you’re struggling with is how to find users.
An effective way is to get together with a few colleagues and patrol the path the users travel frequently, hide in the bushes and when they appear wrap a circle around them. Then tie them to a tree while you’re hunting for more. Once you’ve captured enough users (as a guideline, you need 2–5000), take them to your base.
User interviews
You’ve captured them, now what? Introducing the “Interrogation and torture toolkit” which is a must for every UX researcher. Let me show you what’s in my toolkit.
- Electric shock works wonders in person and stun guns are not expensive. But what if you’re doing remote interviews? I’m in the process of developing zzzzzzzSkype — a plugin for Skype that delivers fast and efficient electric shock via the ctrl-zzzzzzz shortcut.
- Another thing you could try is to strip them naked and tickle them with a feather duster. To make sure everything they’re saying is true, just force a polygraph test.
6. Try hypnosis. Hypnotized people will happily get to the bottom of any issue (especially childhood, marriage, personality). They’ll even go out and sell your product to random people on the street, while wearing a sexy cow outfit. And the best thing, it’s unlikely they’ll even remember it afterwards. A similar effect can be achieved with past-life regression when the user realises the reason they can’t use your app is not because it sucks but actually because they were a two-legged alcoholic donkey in the previous life and this is their punishment.
13. Silence. Just don’t say a thing, they’ll start talking about themselves automatically.
Ethnographic research
User interviews can only go so far; sometimes you may need to observe users in their natural settings. In this case home surveillance is your friend. Identify a time when the user is not at home and install some secret cameras. I’ve found that the user doesn’t act the same way when they know they’re being observed as they do when they simply don’t have that information.
And remember….
Never underestimate the power of a good incentive. Offer them hallucinogenic drugs, fish food and free online exposure.
And here’s my list of recommended UX resources:
A Pet Owner’s Guide to Flemish Giant Bunnies: How to Care for your Flemish Giant, including Health, Breeding, Personality, Lifespan, Colors, Diet, Facts and Clubs is a timeless classic
How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You
and finally…
The CIA cookbook: A Collection of Our Favorite Recipes for the Home Chef
