In the previous chapter, we covered eight methods for gathering both qualitative and quantitative data:
Qualitative methods:
- Observation: The fly-on-the-wall method
- The moderated observation method
- The user interviews method
- User recording: Tracking analysis and the interview method
Quantitative methods:
- The quantitative survey method
- The A/B testing method
- The usability analytics method
- The accessibility compliance method
Qualitative and quantitative research methods produce data on your user that an HCI designer can work with to synthesize and analyze. The role of synthesizing is essential in evaluating not just the data itself but also the lasting value any dataset can have on a product or the HCI designer's decision making. Synthesis is the opportunity for the HCI designer to be a detective with the data to find patterns, make correlations between ideas, reveal connections between different users and organized themes and trends, uncover holes...