Instrumenting the user: Needfinding by combining data logging and immediate self-reporting
Gabriel Aldaz, Martin Steinert, LARRY J. LEIFER · BIBSYS Brage (BIBSYS (Norway)) · 2013
This paper proposes a quantitative exploration and evaluation method for need finding that may be used in situations where the classical quantitative methodsinterviews and direct observationmay not be effective on their own."Instrumenting the user" combines sensor data logging with periodic, immediate self-reports.The purpose of instrumenting the user is to enable the longitudinal collection and subsequent analysis of data that will aid in the identification of needs that are not apparent to the designer based on prior experience, talking to users, or observing them.When used to generate hypotheses, this quantitative approach retains the open-ended, non-standardized aspects of qualitative methods.A case study from the hearing aid industry illustrates an implementation of the method and explains how instrumenting the user can yield unexpected insights.