Contextual inquiry

Contextual design is a flexible software design approach that collects multiple customer-centered techniques into an integrated design process [7]. The approach is centered around contextual inquiry sessions in which detailed information is gathered about the way individual people work and use systems and the associated information flow. The data from each contextual inquiry session are used to create sequence models that map the exact workflow in a session along with any information breakdowns, flow models that detail the flow of information between parties and systems (much akin to but less formal... 

Contextual inquiry Procedures and strategies Information requirements and flow Knowledge requirements Workload Collaboration requirements Real-world contexts Task performers All... 

Contextual inquiry Contextual inquiry is a situated field interview (real-world use environment) method, related to ethnographic research, in which a researcher observes a user s interaction with and use of systems in real-world contexts. The researcher watches and periodically interviews the user and colleagues about the activities while they are being performed. The technique is less burdensome on the user because much of the time is devoted to direct observation of the user s actions. The combination of direct observation of users working in context together with probing users to articulate important aspects of their work leads the researcher to a deep understanding of the work. 

Keywords Fieldwork, ethnography, user research, naturalistic observation, contextual inquiry, artifact walkthough, naturalistic usability evaluation. 

Contextual Inquiry, in contrast, depends upon interaction with users in real time. Unlike a conventional interview, contextual inquiry is very non-linear. Opportunities to probe deeply versus opportunities to broaden the exploration arise unpredictably. There are specific inquiry techniques help the researcher not only to elicit samples of behavior and explore contextual dependencies, but also to balance depth with breadth. 

All three seminars were targeted to address (1) overwhelming content by providing a collaborative/cooperative learning environment (2) connections among content areas by building interdisciplinary, inquiry-oriented activities and (3) content relevance by providing a model for contextualization of theoretical mathematics and science content. 

Action research may be found under other names, like participatory research, collaborative inquiry, emancipatory research, action learning, and contextual action research. 

Ethnography is a strategy of inquiry in which the researcher studies an intact cultural group in a natural setting over a prolonged period of time by collecting, primarily, observational and interview data. The research process is flexible and typically evolves contextually in response to the lived realities encountered in the field setting. 

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