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    "title" : "How to Choose a User Experience Technique |Digital.gov",
    "description": "How to Choose a User Experience Technique",
    "home_page_url" : "/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/cm-topics-button-component/","feed_url" : "/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/cm-topics-button-component/2014/08/18/how-to-choose-a-user-experience-technique/index.json","item" : [
    {"title" :"How to Choose a User Experience Technique","summary" : "The good news: Your boss is interested in User Experience! The news: She wants you to do something about it… NOW. Well, don’t be alarmed; you can start by figuring out two simple things.","date" : "2014-08-18T10:00:17-04:00","date_modified" : "2024-04-02T09:45:13-04:00","authors" : {"pooja-sawant" : "Pooja Sawant"},"topics" : {
        
            "customer-experience" : "Customer experience",
            "research" : "Research",
            "usability" : "Usability",
            "user-experience" : "User Experience"
            },"primary_image" : { "uid" : "how-ux-solves-problems-umbrella-image-by-dan-willis-uxcrank", "alt" :
  "A black line drawing of an open classic umbrella with a curved handle is on a light yellow background. Along the top in black text is, How U X Solves problems. The umbrella shows 6 tips, and each has an element of user experience in black script font. From left to right, they are: visual design, information architecture, interaction design, usability, user research, and content strategy. In the bottom right corner is, Image by Dan Willis (@uxcrank).", "width" :
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  "", "caption" :
  "Dan Willis, @uxcrank", "format" :
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      "filename" :"2014-08-18-how-to-choose-a-user-experience-technique.md",
      
      "filepath" :"news/2014/08/2014-08-18-how-to-choose-a-user-experience-technique.md",
      "filepathURL" :"https://github.com/GSA/digitalgov.gov/blob/cm-topics-button-component/content/news/2014/08/2014-08-18-how-to-choose-a-user-experience-technique.md",
      "editpathURL" :"https://github.com/GSA/digitalgov.gov/edit/cm-topics-button-component/content/news/2014/08/2014-08-18-how-to-choose-a-user-experience-technique.md","slug" : "how-to-choose-a-user-experience-technique","url" : "/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/cm-topics-button-component/2014/08/18/how-to-choose-a-user-experience-technique/","content" :"\u003cp\u003eThe good news: Your boss is interested in User Experience!\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe news: She wants you to do something about it \u0026hellip; NOW.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWell, don’t be alarmed; you can start by figuring out two simple things:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"image image-right image-right-legacy\"\u003e\n  \u003cimg\n    src=\"https://s3.amazonaws.com/digitalgov/_legacy-img/2014/08/250-x-186-How-UX-Solves-Problems-Umbrella-image-by-Dan-Willis-uxcrank.jpg\"\n    alt=\"How UX Solves Problems on an umbrella\"/\u003e\u003cp\u003eDan Willis, uxcrank\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIdentify the \u003cstrong\u003eStage\u003c/strong\u003e you’re in in the development cycle. Write it down.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChoose a \u003cstrong\u003eUser Experience (UX) Technique\u003c/strong\u003e that makes sense in your development stage. While choosing the technique you should first know what the technique offers and how long it takes, so you can make an informed decision. Here are a few user experience techniques and longer explanations below:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e\n  \u003ctable style=\"border-collapse: collapse;width: 100%\" align=\"center\"\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n      \u003ctd style=\"text-align: left\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUX Techniques\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd style=\"text-align: left\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStage\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd style=\"text-align: left\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDuration\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n    \u003c/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n      \u003ctd style=\"text-align: left\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/cm-topics-button-component/2014/08/18/how-to-choose-a-user-experience-technique/#personas\"\u003ePersonas\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd style=\"text-align: left\"\u003eEarly Development\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd style=\"text-align: left\"\u003e2-5 days to 2 weeks\u003c/td\u003e\n    \u003c/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n      \u003ctd style=\"text-align: left\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/cm-topics-button-component/2014/08/18/how-to-choose-a-user-experience-technique/#field\"\u003eField Visits / Ethnographic research\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd style=\"text-align: left\"\u003eInitial Problem Definition\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd style=\"text-align: left\"\u003e2-4 weeks\u003c/td\u003e\n    \u003c/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n      \u003ctd style=\"text-align: left\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/cm-topics-button-component/2014/08/18/how-to-choose-a-user-experience-technique/#focus\"\u003eFocus Groups\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd style=\"text-align: left\"\u003eEarly Development\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd style=\"text-align: left\"\u003e2-4 weeks\u003c/td\u003e\n    \u003c/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n      \u003ctd style=\"text-align: left\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/cm-topics-button-component/2014/08/18/how-to-choose-a-user-experience-technique/#usability\"\u003eUsability Testing\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd style=\"text-align: left\"\u003eThroughout\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd style=\"text-align: left\"\u003e1-3 weeks\u003c/td\u003e\n    \u003c/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n      \u003ctd style=\"text-align: left\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/cm-topics-button-component/2014/08/18/how-to-choose-a-user-experience-technique/#surveys\"\u003eSurveys\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd style=\"text-align: left\"\u003eDevelopment, Post Development, Redesign\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd style=\"text-align: left\"\u003e2-6 weeks\u003c/td\u003e\n    \u003c/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n      \u003ctd style=\"text-align: left\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/cm-topics-button-component/2014/08/18/how-to-choose-a-user-experience-technique/#diary\"\u003eDiary Studies\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd style=\"text-align: left\"\u003ePost Development, Redesign\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd style=\"text-align: left\"\u003e4-6 weeks\u003c/td\u003e\n    \u003c/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n      \u003ctd style=\"text-align: left\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/cm-topics-button-component/2014/08/18/how-to-choose-a-user-experience-technique/#usage\"\u003eUsage Data and Customer Feedback\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd style=\"text-align: left\"\u003eDevelopment, Post Development, Redesign\u003c/td\u003e\n      \u003ctd style=\"text-align: left\"\u003eVariable\u003c/td\u003e\n    \u003c/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n      \u003ctd style=\"width: 288px;height: 30px\" colspan=\"3\"\u003eTable: UX techniques and best-suited phase during development.\u003c/td\u003e\n    \u003c/tr\u003e\n  \u003c/table\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"personas\"\u003ePersonas\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey represent your generalized or hypothetical users. \u003ca href=\"http://uxmag.com/articles/personas-the-foundation-of-a-great-user-experience\"\u003ePersonas\u003c/a\u003e are created to replicate your actual users who are going to use your end product. They serve a great reference point in your development phase, as they resemble your users.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStage\u003c/strong\u003e: Best suited for Early Development phase.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDuration\u003c/strong\u003e: Two to Five days, over two weeks.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"field\"\u003eField Visits\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http://www.uxmatters.com/mt/archives/2010/06/ethnography-in-ux.php\"\u003eThis technique\u003c/a\u003e helps you understand and learn how your users use your product or your website on their turf. You get to evaluate your users’ mental model and get a close look at the usage of your product. This helps you analyze their needs and use it to improve your website or products.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStage:\u003c/strong\u003e Best suited for Initial Problem definition.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDuration:\u003c/strong\u003e Two to four weeks, not including recruiting.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"focus\"\u003eFocus Groups\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese are group interviews conducted to understand what the users want. \u003ca href=\"http://www.nngroup.com/articles/focus-groups/\"\u003eFocus groups\u003c/a\u003e are great to learn the ideas, likes, dislikes, and priorities of your users and also to get feedback from your users.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStage:\u003c/strong\u003e Best suited for Early Development phase during the feature design.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDuration:\u003c/strong\u003e Two to four weeks, not including recruiting.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"usability\"\u003eUsability tests\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http://www.uxbooth.com/articles/usability-testing-dont-guess-test/\"\u003eThese tests\u003c/a\u003e are interviews with specific tasks that are given to users to test your product. They help to uncover the flaws in design, interaction and other user experience problems.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStage:\u003c/strong\u003e Throughout the Design and Development phase.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDuration:\u003c/strong\u003e One to three weeks, including recruiting.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"surveys\"\u003eSurveys\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http://uxmastery.com/better-user-research-through-surveys/\"\u003eSurveys\u003c/a\u003e are questionnaires about your products, distributed to a larger audience to get statistical results. You can understand your users’ choices, priorities and get feedback anonymously.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStage:\u003c/strong\u003e Beginning of the Development phase, After launch and before redesign.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDuration:\u003c/strong\u003e Two to six weeks.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"diary\"\u003eDiary Studies\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUser analysis to study the daily activities of your user. \u003ca href=\"http://www.usabilityprofessionals.org/uxmagazine/dear-diary-using-diaries-to-study-user-experience/\"\u003eDiaries\u003c/a\u003e can help to uncover the actual documented usage of your product and are maintained by the user.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStage:\u003c/strong\u003e After Launch, Before redesign.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDuration:\u003c/strong\u003e Four to Six weeks.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"usage\"\u003eUsage Data and Customer Feedback\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt analyzes your website traffic, usage, and customer feedback. \u003ca href=\"http://www.nngroup.com/articles/analytics-user-experience/\"\u003eUser data\u003c/a\u003e can reveal the pros and cons of your product. User comments and feedback can be obtained.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStage:\u003c/strong\u003e Beginning of the Development phase, After Launch and before Redesign.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDuration:\u003c/strong\u003e Varies.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"how-it-works\"\u003eHow it Works\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSo let’s take it for a spin. Let’s say, for instance, you’re in redesign phase and have two weeks to perform the user analysis before you hand it over to the tech team.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIdentify the \u003cstrong\u003eStage\u003c/strong\u003e—You’re in the Redesign stage\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChoose a \u003cstrong\u003eUser Experience Technique\u003c/strong\u003e—For the redesign stage, we can choose from three UX techniques: Usability tests, Surveys, and Usage Data \u0026amp; Customer Feedback.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNow that you know what you can do, go out and give it a try! And let us know how things went.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGood luck!\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePooja Sawant\u003c/strong\u003e is in her second year at University of Maryland, College Park, earning an MS in Information Management. She is interning with the \u003ca title=\"DigitalGov User Experience Program\" href=\"/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/cm-topics-button-component/resources/digitalgov-user-experience-resources/\"\u003eDigitalGov User Experience Program\u003c/a\u003e at GSA this summer.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n"}
  ]
}