Contextual research can be accomplished in two different ways: Bringing the participant to us where the lab is set up to resemble the actual usage experience (In-Lab Interviews), or going where the participant interacts with your product or service (On-Site Interviews).

In-Lab Interviews

Unlike focus group discussions, contextual research is generally conducted one-on-one or with a small group of no more than three people. In-lab interviews, also called “user tests,” are incredibly valuable when discussing material that might be sensitive, if a thorough understanding of a smaller population is needed, or if you have a target population that might be hard to interview in groups (e.g., doctors, executives, children).

In-lab interviews are also particularly useful when the product or product-use scenario can be easily duplicated in one of our state of the art labs. Our ability to set up our labs to feel like the intended area of use (office, living room, bathroom, etc.), combined with technologically advanced capabilities of recording the research taking place and allowing clients to observe in real time, make in-lab interviews especially worthwhile.

On-Site Interviews

On-site interviews are useful when you want to get a picture of how your customer interacts with your product or service in their natural environment. On-site interviews are often conducted in the consumer’s home, thereby enabling the acquisition of more realistic data than what can be obtained from a standard survey format, or the sometimes perceived artificial setting of a usability lab. Here, the researcher can be immersed in the social and cultural habitat of the consumer in order to gain more information about their attitudes, beliefs, perceptions and values.

The key to good contextual research interviews, whether In-lab or On-site, is the quality of the interviewer’s technique. Our interviewers have years of experience conducting this type of research and know how to successfully extract useful information from our research participants.

What can you expect from us if you want Contextual Research?

• We work with you to determine your research goals and objectives.
• We use those goals and objectives to set up a research plan that finds you the answers you need to know.
• We create specialized screeners to recruit exactly the right participants for the interviews.
• We make all arrangements for interviews, whether in-lab or on-site.
• We record all interview sessions and, when possible, make arrangements for you to observe live.
• After the interviews, we analyze the data, and provide you with clear, scalable approaches to meet your goals and objectives.

Contact us today to see how UEresearch can make a difference to your business.