Contextual Inquiry
Observe and interview users in their natural environment while they perform tasks to understand context of use.
Budget
highTimeline
mediumTeam Size
smallGoals
exploratory generative
Pros
- ✓ Reveals real-world context and behaviors
- ✓ Uncovers unarticulated needs
- ✓ Combines observation with inquiry
- ✓ Builds deep user empathy
Cons
- × Time-intensive to conduct and analyze
- × Requires access to users' environments
- × Observer presence may affect behavior
- × Scheduling can be challenging
Example Use Case
Observing and interviewing accountants during tax season to understand how they use financial software in their workflow.
Additional Use Cases
- • Workplace process analysis
- • Home technology usage
- • Professional tool evaluation