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.
Learning Objectives
The skills students will obtain in this course include:
- Conducting common user research methods, and articulating their advantages and disadvantages
- Selecting appropriate analysis techniques to analyze 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.
Grading
Point Distribution
The grades for the assignments will be distributed as follows:
Individual Assignments (20 pts)
- Bio — 2 pts
- CITI Certificate — 3 pts
- AEIOU Observations — 3 pts
- Atlas.ti CAQDAS Assignment — 6 pts
- Survey Assignment — 6 pts
Quizzes (10 pts)
- Technical Writing — 5 pts
- Reports Sections — 5 pts
Idea Report (10 pts)
- Report & Presentation — 9 pts
- Voting — 1 pt
Group Project (54 pts)
- Deliverable 1 — 3 pts
- Deliverable 2 — 15 pts
- Deliverable 3 — 3 pts
- Deliverable 4 — 3 pts
- Deliverable 5 — 3 pts
- Deliverable 6 — 27 pts
Participation (6 pts)
- Attendance — 4.5 pts
- Participant Pool — 1.5 pts
Overall Total: 100 pts
Letter Grade
The final letter grades will be assigned based on the total number of points obtained as follows:
- A
- B
- B+: 87–89.9
- B: 83–86.9
- B–: 80–82.9
- C
- C+: 77–79.9
- C: 73–76.9
- C–: 70–72.9
- D
- F: below 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.
All students are expected to abide by the University's Academic Integrity Policy which prohibits cheating and other misconduct in student coursework. Publicly sharing or posting online any prior or current materials from this course (including exam questions or answers), is considered to be providing unauthorized assistance prohibited by the policy. Both students who share/post and students who access or use such materials are considered to be cheating under the Policy and will be subject to sanctions for violations of Academic Integrity.
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