1.1 Thesis 2: Activity / User Testing Research Methods
Here are the three possible research methods that I'm planning to use that can work with my thesis:
Contextual Inquiry
This method involves observing and interviewing mothers in their natural environments, such as at home or during daily activities. It provides insight into the challenges they face and how they manage the demands of parenting, allowing you to identify pain points and potential areas for support.
How it works: I can observe participants going about their daily routines while asking questions to understand the context behind their actions. This method is ideal for gaining empathy and understanding the realities of motherhood that may lead to burnout. It also helps uncover unmet needs that mothers might not express explicitly.
Outcome: In-depth qualitative data about the everyday lives of mothers, highlighting areas where interventions could be most impactful in helping them feel more relaxed and effective.
Usability Testing
How it works: Mothers can interact with a prototype or final version of my app and website while being observed or interviewed about their experience. I can ask them to perform specific tasks, such as setting up a relaxation routine through an app or an organizational tool, and assess how easily they navigate it.
Outcome: By observing how mothers use them, I can identify pain points in the user experience and improve features to make them more helpful and user-friendly. This can ensure that your product or service helps reduce stress rather than adding to it.
Survey
How it works: I can create a structured survey with quantitative (rating scales, multiple-choice questions) and qualitative (open-ended) questions to get feedback on mothers' experiences. I could ask about their most significant parenting challenges, what helps them relax, and how confident they feel in their parenting roles.
Outcome: Survey data helps me understand the general landscape of maternal stress and confidence, identifying key areas where mothers feel unsupported. This can inform the design and marketing of my deliverables. Surveys can also be used post-launch to assess satisfaction and measure the effectiveness of each deliverable in reducing burnout.