Field Studies/Contextual Enquiries

Field studies, also known as contextual inquiries, involve observing users in their natural environment.
This approach is crucial because a user's behavior might change when they are taken out of their normal context and placed in an artificial setting.

The primary goal is to observe users in the environment where they most frequently use the product, such as their workplace.
Observing users in their natural setting provides a more accurate understanding of how they interact with the product.
It helps uncover issues or interruptions they encounter in their daily routine, which might affect their product usage.

Field Studies employ qualitative data collection methods.
Data collection methods include:
- Direct observation and note-taking.
- Interviews conducted during observation.
- Photography and audio/video recording.

Field studies provide deep, insightful qualitative data.
They reveal real-world issues and interruptions users face.
They can be conducted early in the development process to inform design decisions.

Before the Study:
- Determine the study's objectives, method, and budget.
- Develop an editable script with planned notes and questions.
- Recruit diverse participants, including those unfamiliar with the system or using non-native language interfaces.
- Limit the number of observers to avoid making participants feel watched.
- Provide clear guidelines for observers regarding questioning users.
During the Study:
- Quickly sketch interface problems encountered by users.
- Take detailed notes, and consider recording everything.
- Pay attention to the environment, user habits, cultures, and workspace.
- Rely on notes and sketches rather than memory.
After the Study:
- Debrief with all observers to capture all pertinent information.
- Thank participants and provide any agreed-upon incentives (e.g., payment, gift cards).
- Store notes and recordings confidentially.
- Analyze findings and create preliminary results as soon as possible.

UNICEF partnered with India's Ministry of Health and Welfare to develop an online application for nurse midwives.
The application aimed to replace paper-based data collection with a tablet-based system.
Requirements included:
- Easy to use in rural environments on small devices.
- Enable instant data transfer to a central server.
- Maintain good healthcare records accessible in the field.
- Record household information, demographics, and medical history.
Fieldwork focused on:
- Understanding daily tasks of midwives.
- Identifying necessary data points and their destination.
- Ensuring data accessibility on small devices.
- Evaluating internet connection requirements and performance in rural areas.
- Assessing icon appropriateness, mapping, and visibility.
The study involved observation, note-taking, and recording to identify areas for improvement and design recommendations.