Using Ethnographic Methods in the Redesign of User Interfaces

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Date
1998-10-15Author
Rose, Anne
Shneiderman, Ben
Plaisant, Catherine
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Show full item recordAbstract
Methods for observing software users in the workplace will become
increasingly important as the number of people using computers grows and
developers improve existing systems. Successful redesigns rely, in part,
on complete and accurate evaluations of the existing systems. Based on
our evaluation experience, we have derived a set of practical guidelines
to be used by designers in preparing for the evaluation, performing the
field study, analyzing the data, and reporting the findings. By
providing a general framework based on ethnographic research, we hope to
reduce the likelihood of some common problems, such as overlooking
important information and misinterpreting observations. Examples from
our ongoing work with the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services are
used to illustrate the proposed guidelines.
(Also cross-referenced as CAR-TR-765)