| Unit name | User Research |
|---|---|
| Unit code | INOVM0025 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Petermann |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
NA |
| School/department | Centre for Innovation |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Why is this unit important?
This unit will equip you with a toolkit of human-centred user research methods, and give you practical experience in conducting them, in order for you to understand your target users better and test your creative ideas “in the wild”. You will use participatory design and co-production to build up your understanding of users/customers/stakeholders and where to create value for them. It aims to give you an understanding of important marketplace advantage and prevent you from wasting time, money, and effort in designing the wrong product or solution. You will define target audiences clearly, carry out a range of appropriate user research methodologies and learn how to refine your ideas based on the results of that user research.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
We will explore how and where to conduct user research through a variety of different methodologies, look at how others have produced theories to fit behavioural observations, recognise factors that limit the use of user research methods, and how to carry out analysis of data captured from user research.
You will also learn to critically reflect and recognise what skills and resources you have themselves and as a team, as well as the effectiveness and impact of applying those skills and resources to an innovation and entrepreneurial opportunity to create value.
An overview of content
This unit provides core professional methodology and academic knowledge for the practice of conducting primary user research in a responsible and ethical manner. The course provides a wealth of practical methods for gathering and analysing user research data.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
You will have gained both competence and confidence in conducting and analysing user research and be able to select and apply relevant methods to a range of real and imagined scenarios. You will have realised and be able to articulate the value of really understanding your user before developing solutions. You will be able to reflect on the development of your professional research practice.
Learning Outcomes
By the completion of this unit students should be able to:
1. select, plan, and conduct a variety of appropriate human-centred user research and collaborative and participatory design methods.
2. demonstrate an understanding of key theories and methods of human-centred user research to articulate a responsible approach to research and collaborative and participatory design and demonstrate ethical practice in the process of conducting such research and design processes.
3. reflect critically on the social, cultural, and ethical issues which impact user research and collaborative and participatory design in general and their own specific practice thereof.
4. document and present, their individual and group processes of conducting human-centred user research and collaborative and participatory design practice.
5. capture, analyse, and draw insights from user research and collaborative and participatory design practice to inform the development of research and design projects.
Teaching will be focused on interactive studio-style workshop sessions and small-group project work supported by in-person and online lectures. This simulates the group-based professional context of collaborative research practice and allows for the kind of discussion, debate, and diversity of perspective that really stimulates transformative creative learning.
Teaching and assessment are focused on real-world problems, with real user perspectives gathered through student research, to add to the authenticity of what is being learnt and why.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Teaching on the unit is highly interactive and weekly discussions and project work conducted with both peers and academic staff will help you develop your research practice, test your methods and ideas, and hone your professional use of the tools and methods taught. Students will be asked to show and tell their peers and staff about their ongoing research work, receiving feedback and constructive critique. There will be opportunities to submit early drafts of both group and individual work for staff feedback.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Portfolio of Research (group assessment) 60%
3000 words
Reflective Summary (individual assessment) 40%
2000 words
When an assessment does not go to plan
In the case of the individual Reflective Summary a student who was not able to take or pass the assessment at the first attempt would get a fresh attempt to pass the same assessment. In the case of the group Portfolio of Research we would enable anyone who was not able to take or pass the assessment at this first attempt an individual assessment in the form of an individual critique of their group’s original Portfolio highlighting areas for improvement and development through better use of the taught methods.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. INOVM0025).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an
assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
