T04: Qualitative research methods for interaction design

Half Day Tutorial

Panos Markopoulos (short bio)
Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands

Objectives:

Participants will acquire an overview of qualitative research methods and understanding of when and how these can be used to inform interaction design. Participants will acquire hands on experience of analyzing and collecting such data. By the end of the tutorial participants will be able to locate and apply appropriate methods depending on the specific challenge at hand, and to appreciate trade offs these entail. They will also be able to adapt such methods to the needs of design or research projects.

Content and Benefits:

An introductory lecture will motivate the use of qualitative research methods and compare them to quantitative methods, relating these to different intellectual traditions like ethnography, action research, grounded theory, etc. Particular emphasis will be paid to the different needs of designers versus researchers in human computer interaction. An overview of the vast range of methods and techniques applicable in the field of human computer interaction and interaction design will be given, emphasizing commonalities and nuances that set them apart, covering techniques such as focus groups, repertory grids, cultural probes, performance ethnography, etc. This will help attendees relate disparate methods with roots in social sciences and design research. The purpose is to help participants easily relate different methods and variants to each other. The iterative nature of qualitative research will be motivated and illustrated in the context of practical activities. The notion of quality in qualitative research will be discussed and compared to those widely accepted for quantitative research. Finally, we shall discuss how to communicate the findings of qualitative research depending on the intended purposes and audience.

Target Audience:

The level is introductory, particularly appropriate for HCI researchers and practitioners without a background in behavioral research methods.

Bio Sketch of Presenter:

Panos Markopoulos is a computer scientist who has more than 20 years experience in the field of Human Computer Interaction. He has worked on several topics, including task analysis, software engineering methods in human computer interaction, ambient intelligence, awareness systems and privacy, and interaction design for children. He is a Professor at the Eindhoven University of Technology, where a considerable part of his work concerns the appropriate application of research methods from social sciences in the field of interaction design.

Books:
Evaluating Children's Interactive Products
Awareness Systems