The processes are a-changin'

This week from People Nerds: We discuss a new product development framework, write take-home challenges, and Walk-the-Store with users

Be the change you want to see in product Dave Hora proposes a new framework for product development—one that considers the intersection product ecosystems, team reality, and user context. He argues that researchers should do more than just impact the product development process. They have the right skillset to lead it.   CH-CH-CHANGES This week's community poll Answer with a click this week, see the results in next week's newsletter.   Did your last job interview include a "take-home" or "challenge" assignment?   1. Yes 2. No Hiring managers: Let's talk take-home challenges A well-rounded take-home challenge needs to be tough (but appropriate for the job level), detailed (but without too many suggestions), and timely (but not too short or too long). To find the right balance and the right candidate—we need to take a step back and ask ourselves…why a take-home test?   YOU HAVE 2 HOURS "Can you see my screen?" Why visualize your user's experience when you can actually see it? During Walk-the-Store interviews, participants show how they use your product step-by-step. Learn when to use this method, how to conduct your own, and deliverables you can expect from it.    WALK THE WALK Let's get out of the respondent and researcher mentality—and let's just have a conversation. ENIOLA ABIOYE User Experience Researcher at Meta (Former: Senior UX Design Researcher @ Silicon Valley Bank) READ MORE More we're discussing: Believe it or not, Janelle Ward wants you to get MORE subjective in your qual research. See how autoethnography can elevate your user understanding.  Despite their good intentions, company IRBs can do more harm than good for our users. Alba Villamil breaks down why they need to adapt. Learn about your user beyond their experience with your product. In this video, Nikki Anderson-Stanier shares tips for doing better generative research. What we're hearing: As data pours in from recent product testing, how do you prioritize your findings? Evan Sunwall suggests using severity as your guide. John Olarinde walls through two methods you can utilize to measure the success of your designs and how to put feedback to use. When there is a language barrier between you and your user, you may need to rely heavily on a translation tool. Maria Rosala shares five tips to ensure these sessions are beneficial to everyone involved. dscout is a company composed of People Nerds working to make context-rich human insight an everyday habit across organizations. The dscout platform—Diary, Live, Recruit, and Express—enables remote qualitative research that brings researchers into the moments experienced and shared by real people. Curious about the platform or working with dscout? Talk to an account executive.  dscout, 222 North LaSalle St. Suite 650, Chicago, Illinois 60601, (312) 880-9715 Unsubscribe Manage preferences

Do as your user does

This week from People Nerds: We highlight the use cases of autoethnography, discuss company IRBs, and give our own TED(W) talk.

Dive into your users' world Immerse yourself in your users' experience with autoethnography. Through self-reflexivity, bias is acknowledged and rendered meaningful in results. See how to conduct this type of project and what you need to consider before jumping in.   LET'S GET SUBJECTIVE Results from last week's community poll (n = 84) How often do you conduct studies that do NOT directly involve your product/service? 39.3% | Never    25% | Rarely 21.4% | Sometimes   9.5% | Often   4.8% | Always dscout is thrilled to partner with HmntyCntrd—an award-winning community that's transforming the status quo of what it means to be human-centered in our professional and personal lives.   In the coming months, we'll be collaborating on original research and sharing insights from HmntyCntrd contributors. Read the seventh piece from the HmntyCntrd community below, or learn more about their programs here.  Why company IRBs need to change Institutional Review Boards were designed to enforce ethical research practices and protect participants. Though created with good intentions, IRBs are not silver bullets. Alba N. Villamil breaks down where IRBs go wrong and how they can improve.   CHANGE FOR GOOD Our TEDW talk There are few skills more essential to research than generative interviewing. Looking to level up? In this video, Nikki Anderson-Stanier walks through a four-part framework for asking generative questions.   ASK THIS, NOT THAT Research doesn't have to just be about gaining insights into a group of people. It is a process that can be, I think, oriented towards justice and care. ALBA VILLAMIL Social UX Researcher READ MORE More we're discussing:  On the fence about becoming a manager or an IC? Vodafone's Ashton Snook shares his experience in both areas. HALT! Are you feeling hungry, angry, lonely, or tired? If yes, Transformation Coach Cindy Lamar wants you to take a break. Take a broad, contextual look at your participants' lives with a Day in the Life study. Explore use cases, tips for success, and a sample project. What we're hearing: Give your company or yourself some credit. Adam Fard walks through how to write a clear and compelling UX case study. While in the discovery phase of research, it's difficult to dictate a direction. Maria Rosala can help you set your course with three mapping methods. How do I keep my users engaged with my design? Tanner Kohler breaks down how meeting three psychological needs can increase motivation. dscout is a company composed of People Nerds working to make context-rich human insight an everyday habit across organizations. The dscout platform—Diary, Live, Recruit, and Express—enables remote qualitative research that brings researchers into the moments experienced and shared by real people. Curious about the platform or working with dscout? Talk to an account executive.  dscout, 222 North LaSalle St. Suite 650, Chicago, Illinois 60601, (312) 880-9715 Unsubscribe Manage preferences