1. UXPA 2015 UX Research with Kids Kids Say The Darndest Things
@sarah_eden #UXPA2015 @UEGroup
2. Sarah Garcia, Lead Researcher UEGroup, Silicon Valley Since
2004 Welcome!
3. 3
4. Real kids are shy. You have to talk to them like real
people. -Stan 4
5. They have opinions. Sometimes you have to draw them out
& sometimes you have to reign them in. KIDS ARE REAL PEOPLE!
5
6. They have preconceived notions. They are influenced by
technological/historical constraints, but perhaps less than adults.
KIDS ARE REAL PEOPLE! 6
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8. They are open to new ways of doing things. But analog is
appealing too! KIDS ARE REAL PEOPLE! 8
9. VHS & VIEWFINDERS 9
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11. 11
12. VIEWFINDERS! 12
13. They are dreaming of the future. Why wouldnt you do it that
way? KIDS ARE REAL PEOPLE! 13
14. Their input matters! Good companies are designing for the
future. KIDS ARE REAL PEOPLE! 14
15. NOW WHAT? 15 How do you find them? What kind of research is
appropriate? Who do you pick? What challenges will I face? What
kind of questions should I ask? How should I set up the room?
16. RECRUITING
17. Always go through the parents - NDA - Consent to
participate - Consent to video - Payment RECRUITING THE RIGHT WAY
17 Templates available on usability.gov
18. Screeners are key - Open ended questions help the screening
process - Follow up with a phone call Too shy vs. too rehearsed
Parent groups/Word of mouth Consider pairs/siblings RECRUITING THE
RIGHT KIDS 18
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20. Allow parents to preview session script/diaries, etc. Allow
parents to view sessions Include parents in session EASE PARENTAL
CONCERNS 20
21. KNOW WHEN (AND HOW) TO INCLUDE PARENTS21
22. AGE APPROPRIATE RESEARCH METHODS
23. Sensory-motor intelligence 0-2 years UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE
OF COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT 23 *As defined by Swiss psychologist Jean
Piaget, 1929 Pre-conceptual thought 2-4 years Intuitive Thought 4-7
years Concrete Operations 8-11 years Formal Operations 11-18
years
24. 24 *Chart adapted from Sabina Idler, uxkids.com, Feb
2014
25. PLAY USER TESTING 25 4-7 years 4-11 years P r e - c o n c e
p t u a l
26. TRADITIONAL USER TESTING 26 8-18 years
27. Kids are setting up their parents devices Kids are getting
their own devices First time experience needs to be accessible and
meaningful to all ages OOBE WITH KIDS 27 11-18 years
28. ETHNOGRAPHIES WITH KIDS 28 2-18 years
29. DIARY STUDY 29 11-18 years
30. INTERCEPTIVE TEXTS 30 Helps us get an unexpected snapshot
into the lives of the participant. 11-18 years
31. What makes you happy? 31
32. Who is watching TV right now? 32
33. VISITS GAVE THE TEXT CONTEXT 33
34. SETTING THE SCENE
35. Match scenario Set context: This is your living room Draw
similarities between what the child has in real life and what is
staged in room Add personal touches & creature comforts
Minimize camera/recording distractions CREATE THE RIGHT SPACE
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36. SPACE MATTERS 36
37. SPACE MATTERS 37
38. EVEN CHAIRS MATTER 38
39. SESSION STRUCTURE
40. Takes session time based on cognitive ability into
consideration. A GOOD TEST PLAN FOR KIDS 40 2-4 year olds