1. CONTEXTUAL INQUIRY OR:
HOW I LEARNED TO STOP TALKING AND LOVE OBSERVATION
by Kevin Vigneault at Lean UX & Content on February 19, 2013

2. HI! I’M
KEVIN
VIGNEAULT

3. STORY TIME

4. BYPASS LANE
URL or Source

5. CREDITS

6. OH SHIT!
CHICKEN
SANDWICHES
URL or Source

7. CONTEXTUAL
INQUIRY

8. uber-formal just
process winging it

9. DEFINITION
An ethnographic research method in which
users are observed and questioned while
they work in their natural environments.

10. DEFINITION
An ethnographic research method in which
users are observed and questioned while
they work in their natural environments.

11. THE PROCESS
1. Brief Interview
2. The “Switch”
3. Observation
4. Summarization

12. FOUR PRINCIPLES

13. #1 - CONTEXT
Conduct the inquiry in the actual context
in which the work is performed.

14. #2 - PARTNERSHIP
Collaborate to understand the user’s work.

15. MASTER-APPRENTICE
MASTER APPRENTICE
URL or Source

16. PARTNERSHIP
PARTNER PARTNER
URL or Source

17. #3 - INTERPRETATION
Share your interpretations and insights
with the user during the interview.

18. #4 - FOCUS
Steer the interaction toward topics that
are relevant to you.

19. THREE PRO TIPS

20. #1 - BE LIKABLE
People will be more likely to work in their
normal, natural way if they feel
comfortable around you.

21. #2 - NO AUDIO / VIDEO
It’s a pain to set up and runs the high risk
of making the subject less comfortable.

22. #3 - CAPTURE ARTIFACTS
Photos, screenshots, notes on paper;
whatever you can collect.

23. LET’S RECAP
1. An ethnographic research method
2. Happens in a real context
3. Pick a model to follow
4. Be likable & don’t disturb

24. THANK YOU
LET’S DISCUSS!