Know Your User: Research Methods Beyond Usability Testing
Dates: March 4-29, 2019
Credits: 1.5 CEUs or 15 PDHs
Price: $175
Course Summary
This four-week course will cover a selection of user research methods, including user interviews, observational studies, card sorting and A/B testing, that can be used to answer questions not typically answered through usability testing. In this course, you will learn the strengths and limitations of each type of study, the kinds of questions each can answer, and how to design these types of studies. You will consider good practices when interviewing and how to design and collect information through observational studies, card sorting activities, and A/B tests. We will also consider how best to follow up on what you learn through your studies in order to improve online interfaces or services.
This course can be taken as one of six courses needed to earn our Certificate in User Experience (UX), but can be taken as a stand-alone course as well.
Instructor
Emily Daly is Head of Assessment & User Experience at Duke University Libraries in Durham, NC. She coordinates Duke Libraries’ Assessment Team and plans and conducts user research related to the Libraries’ website, as well as library services, collections and spaces. She primarily uses qualitative research methods in her work. Emily also helps lead the Libraries’ Digital Preservation and Publishing Program and helps coordinate the Libraries’ web interfaces teams. Website
Course Structure
This is an online class that is taught asynchronously, meaning that participants do the work on their own time as their schedules allow. The class does not meet together at any particular times, although the instructor may set up optional sychronous chat sessions. Instruction includes readings and assignments in one-week segments. Class participation is in an online forum environment.
