Module Code - Title:
CS4103
-
USER RESEARCH METHODS
Year Last Offered:
2025/6
Hours Per Week:
Grading Type:
N
Prerequisite Modules:
Rationale and Purpose of the Module:
The main objective of this module is to promote a good understanding of user research methods and how to correctly apply them as part of the interaction design process. The knowledge and skills acquired will be applicable to other modules, including the Final Year Projects and will improve graduates' employability prospects in multiple sectors.
Syllabus:
This module provides an introduction to a range of user research methods. Students learn to appreciate the variety of methodological techniques, how to judge which are appropriate to particular research problems and how to identify the merits and limitations of different types of research design. This module covers: user research design; qualitative methods; analysing qualitative data; quantitative methods; analysing quantitative data; social and ethical issues in user research; presenting and dissemination research.
Learning Outcomes:
Cognitive (Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis)
On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
Access the strengths and weaknesses of different research methods
Critically analyse existing research in terms of design and methodology
Construct an answerable research question
Select the appropriate research design for the research problem they face
Conduct basic descriptive analysis of quantitative and qualitative data
Design, carry out and write up a simple research project.
Affective (Attitudes and Values)
On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
Demonstrate an awareness of the need to undertake research that is ethically sound.
Psychomotor (Physical Skills)
On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
How the Module will be Taught and what will be the Learning Experiences of the Students:
The module will be taught through a combination of lectures and tutorials. In the lectures students will be introduced to the user research process, the variety of ways in which such research can be performed and the advantages and disadvantages of each method (Knowledgeable). Lectures will also include discussions of ethics in user research, with case studies used to show good and bad practices (Responsible) and examples from recent research showing how user research methods have changed as interaction design has moved from the desktop to mobile, wearable and ubiquitous computing. In the tutorial sessions students will design user research for specific examples of research question, as well as applying analytical techniques to published user research results. Students will also design a user research program in response to a specific research question (Creative), report on their design and reflect on how well it answers the question that was posed (Articulate).
Research Findings Incorporated in to the Syllabus (If Relevant):
Prime Texts:
Baxter, K., Courage, C. and Caine, K. (2015)
Understanding your users: a practical guide to user research methods.
, Morgan Kaufmann
Goodman, E. and Kuniavsky, M. (2012)
Observing the user experience: A practitioner's guide to user research.
, Elsevier
Sharon, T. (2012)
It's our research: getting stakeholder buy-in for user experience research projects
, Morgan Kaufmann
Other Relevant Texts:
Programme(s) in which this Module is Offered:
BSDMDEUFA - DIGITAL MEDIA DESIGN
Semester(s) Module is Offered:
Autumn
Module Leader:
mark.marshall@ul.ie