Qualitative data is collected through methods of observations and gathers data that can be observed and recorded. Qualitative information data is non-numerical. HCI and UX tend to focus on qualitative research methods at first, especially if the software design team is designing something new. Qualitative data can help a group gather deep understandings of the motivations, problems, and past experiences of our users through observations and interviews.
Take the following example.
We are creating a high school band members' app:
- User data = 45 students in the user research group
- Version 1: Qualitative data set by band role:
- 6 flutes
- 7 trumpets
- 12 drumlines
- 3 tubas
- 8 saxophones
- 9 flag guards
- Version 2: Qualitative data set by student grade:
- 12 seniors
- 20 juniors
- 7 sophomores
- 6 freshman
The condition creates a quantity but can also associate a set of unique needs from that cross-section of the data. As an HCI designer or user researcher, a team...