The Truth is Out There

Abstract

Most user experience practitioners realize that they need to get out of the labs and spend more time in “the wild” where products are actually being used. Common methods to capture user experience, such as in-lab usability testing, contextual interviews, surveys, focus groups, and ethnographic research are useful, but pose challenges. Experience sampling captures user experience in the place and time it occurs. When employed over time, it can provide insight into users’ activities, motivations, and product learnability and long-term usage patterns. We now have the technology to conduct experience sampling research using the participant’s own mobile device. This article discusses how advanced mobile technology coupled with experience sampling methodologies can enhance our research toolbox and describes practical uses of the technique in the field.

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