Depth Interview Protocol: Research overview sections
The sections of the interview protocol that are supplemental to the discussion guide are included to explain and coordinate all aspects of the data collection process. The overview sections should explain everything that will happen before, during, and afer the research sessions. It is surprising how details left out of this section can cause such havoc and confusion. Therfore, my team and I think through all aspects of the research days, from refreshments, to materials needed for exercises, to notes for security, to phone numbers of every conceivable person who we may need to call. To some extent this information can be standardized as a checklist, but there seem to be variations for every project that, if left out, come back to bite you, and some of them bite very hard!
In addition to practical preparations for the research team, the overview sections often provide a bullet point list of objectives of each interview section or module. These objectives should directly reflect the central research questions decided on in the planning phase of the project.
The topics that I include in the research overview portion of the interview protocol include:
- Materials
- Daily schedule
- Data capture procedure
- Summary of the interview sections or modules
The materials section specifies the physical items required for each user research session. Include every conceivable object, presentation device, document, list of web sites, etc., that will be required, since this will serve as a checklist the day before the session. Also specify the person(s) responsible for each type of material. Example materials that could be included in this list are:
- Copies of research guide for research team and observers
- Pad and pens for participant sketches
- Dry erase markers
- Non-disclosure agreement
- Agreement and release to be represented in image/video/audio
- Receipt of payment
And so on. I’ll describe the other research overview sections in another post.
Copyright 2009, Paul Bryan, Usography Corporation (www.usography.com)
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