1b Investigation methods

1b Investigation methods

1. Things affecting investigation method

   • Information required
   • Number of people involved
   • Availablity
   • Cost/Time
   • Organisation rules

2. Questionaires

   • O- Good for lots of users
   • O- Gets elicit information with easy data analysis
   • O- Can be done in user's time
   • O- Can be done anonymously, less pressure on answers
   • Types of questions
     • Multiple choice
     • Opinion rating
     • Open question
   • O- Can plan questions
   • X- Impersonal
   • X- Questions need to be clear, can't ask for elaboration
   • X- Answers may not be returned

3. Interviews/ Meetings

   • Best for individuals/ small groups
   • O- Can get fuller response and elaborations as well as ask futher questions
   • O-Can get detailed information
   • O- Can get informal responses of opinions such as body language or facial expression
   • X- Time Consuming
   • X- Not appropriate for many people
   • X- Provides little statistical data analysis
   • X- Have to consider the availability of the user
   • X- Lack of anonymity --> Less honest answers

4. Examining Documents

   • Documents
     • Data collection forms
     • Invoices
     • Receipts
     • Calendars
     • Business cards
   • O- Can identify data flows in organisation
   • O- Can identify lots of data used in the organisation
   • X- Doesn't show all data used as it only shows "formally" used written data
   • X- Not all documents examined may be used as a data source for the organisation.

5. Observations

   • Observing users carrying out normal tasks
     • O- Sitting with users and asking questions if needed
     • Video camera
       • Users may not like being filmed
   • Users may adapt behaviour to be more appropriate if being observed
   • O- Can give clearer meaning than descriptions alone
   • Things to find out
     • Tasks that are done
     • Lenghts of tasks
     • Inputs and outputs for each task
     • O- Any inefficiencies
   • O- Useful if little to no documantation is used
   • O - Can find out about user experience
   • Users may feel intimidated
   • Time consuming
   • Only gives a snap shot, not what is like in the organisation continuously.