Survey Results: Technology for User Research
This past fall the IDSA Human Factors section conducted an online survey to gather data on technologies used to conduct user research. We had nearly eighty responses. The information was used in a recent Usability Professionals Association presentation in New York on Technologies for User Research (TURe). Edited presentation materials, that describe the survey results, may be downloaded from that site (the presentation breaks-down the results between product design and interaction design). The research will also be discussed in an upcoming IDSA podcast (TBA).
Thanks to everyone who responded. I have summarized some of the findings below, and attached two files with more detailed data.
Key Findings:
78 respondents (39 in product design, 47 in interaction design; small overlap between groups)
Overall technology utilization in user research:
- Video Cameras - 61%
- Surveys - 58%
- Software Analytics - 60%
- Computer-Based Video - 35%
- Journals/Diaries/Blogging - 30%
- Remote Testing Tools - 22%
- Physiological Data Tools - 15%
- Eye Tracking - 11%
General Feedback:
- 48% feel limited by current user research technology
- 53% believe user research lags behind technology that is subject of research
- 51% plan to upgrade user research technology within year
- 33% have created custom technology tools or solutions for user research
Data Files:
- HTML Summary Data (no drill-down): Download User_Research_Technology_Summary.html
- Detailed Excel Data: Download User_Research_Technology_detail.xls
