HCI 445 User Research Methods
Summary
HCI 445 aims to provide students with the foundational skills necessary to conduct, analyze and communicate user research. The topics we discuss include:
- Common methods for collecting user data (e.g., observation, interviewing, surveys*)
- Analysis techniques to examine user research data
- Ways to document and communicate user research findings.
* Note that after a recent re-design of this course, we now briefly discuss surveys, but we will no longer be designing, conducting and analyzing surveys or other quantitive methods. Instead, we focus on qualitative methods such as observations and interviews. Students who are interested in the complexity of surveys are encouraged to take the new stand-alone course that focuses exclusively on surveys.
Learning Objectives
The skills I hope you will obtain in this course include:
- Conducting common user research methods, and articulating their advantages and disadvantages
- Selecting appropriate analysis techniques to examine data collected
- Effectively documenting and communicating user research findings.
Texts
Textbook: Goodman, E., Kuniavsky, M., and Moed, A. (2012). Observing the User Experience: A Practitioner's Guide to User Research (2nd Edition). San Francisco, CA: Elsevier.
Software: Atlas.ti.
- Atlas.ti is a computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software (CAQDAS) software, which we will employ for qualitative analysis in the course.
- The student version is available for $51 for six months or $99 for two years.
Grading
The final letter grades will be assigned based on the total number of points obtained as follows:
| |
Range |
| Letter |
Min |
Max |
| A |
93 |
100 |
| A- |
90 |
92.9 |
| B+ |
87 |
89.9 |
| B |
83 |
86.9 |
| B- |
80 |
82.9 |
| C+ |
77 |
79.9 |
| C |
73 |
76.9 |
| C- |
70 |
72.9 |
| D+ |
67 |
69.9 |
| D |
60 |
66.9 |
| F |
< |
59.9 |
Prerequisites
HCI 440 – Introduction to User-Centered Design
This syllabus is subject to change as necessary during the quarter. If a change occurs, it will be thoroughly addressed during class, posted under Announcements in D2L and sent via email.
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Students complete the evaluation online in CampusConnect.
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have any questions be sure to consult with your professor.
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you have contacted the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) at:
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Phone number: (312)362-8002
Fax: (312)362-6544
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