http://www.uiconf.com/8/articles/field_studies_article.html
While techniques, such as focus groups, usability tests, and surveys, can lead to valuable insights, the most powerful tool in the toolbox is the ‘field study’. Field studies get the team immersed in the environment of their users and allow them to observe critical details for which there is no other way of discovering.
Helpful, but darn hard to sell in this day and age of super-tight budgets. One technique I’ve also tried in the past when I couldn’t visit on-site was to send out disposable cameras with a log sheet. Recipients took a picture every 1/2 hour or so of what they were doing, and made a note on the log sheet. Not nearly as helpful as a field study, but still gave some “day in the life” sort of insight to the web team.
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