Data Gathering.

Data Gathering is used to identify user needs, establish requirements and for evaluation purposes. Not only in mobile interface design but also in any discipline data gathering is  important as it helps to understand the the real world user needs and it helps to map real world user needs with system/ application requirements. this helps developers and designers to understand the real world user needs and to design and develop the product or services accordingly. Therefore if the data gathering was not done properly to capture user requirements in the first place, the product/service may go wrong and will not be able to satisfy the user.  there are few different techniques those can be used for data gathering.

Why do we need data gathering?

To find answers  to following questions.


Who is this system for?
What do these people want to do?
Why are they doing it?
Where and When do they will they need to do it?

But if the correct information is not captured for the above questions, the 

requirements will be inaccurate  and then it will lead to a less useful design that will result a poor user satisfaction with the final product.

Interviews

Interviews are always held face to face with two people. Interviewer may ask structured or unstructured questions to extract information from the interviewee, also an interview can contain open or closed questions which needs to be used appropriately according to the nature of information needed.

Focus groups

Focused groups are more similar to interviews with a number of interviewees which could be a 6-10 of people that will be interviewed at once. focus groups are good when different point of views are needed to determine a product or service features but with further details and more qualitative content.

Questionnaires

Questionnaires are usually used online or on printed paper to gather data for statistical purposes. this is normally used when the data collector has an initial understanding of what is needed to be captured and questionnaires are more suitable for gathering mass amounts of data.

Observations

Observations are used when user behaviour is need to be captured directly.Observations can be direct or indirect.if the user behaviours are captures at the same tine when it occurs it is called direct observation and if the user activities are recorded for observe the patterns or the behaviours later it is called indirect observation. 



Advantages and disadvantages of above data collection methods;

Interviews -

Advantages : 

1. Useful for gaining insight and context into a topic
2. Allows respondents to describe what is important to them
3. Useful for gathering quotes and stories

Disadvantages:

1. Susceptible to interview bias
2. Time consuming and expensive compared to other data collection methods
3. May seem intrusive to the respondent

Focus Groups-

Advantages:

1. Quick and relatively easy to set up
2. Group dynamics can provide useful information that individual data collection does not provide
3. Is useful in gaining insight into a topic that may be more difficult to gather information through other data collection methods

Disadvantages:

1. Susceptible to facilitator bias
2. Discussion can be dominated or sidetracked by a few individuals
3. Data analysis is time consuming and needs to be well planned in advance
4. Does not provide valid information at the individual level
5. The information is not representative of other groups

Questionnaires-

Advantages:

1. Administration is comparatively inexpensive and easy even when gathering data from large numbers of people spread over wide geographic area
2. Reduces chance of evaluator bias because the same questions are asked of all respondents
3. Many people are familiar with surveys
4. Some people feel more comfortable responding to a survey than participating in an interview
5. Tabulation of closed-ended responses is an easy and straightforward process 

Disadvantages:

1. Survey respondents may not complete the survey resulting in low response rates
2. Items may not have the same meaning to all respondents
3. Size and diversity of sample will be limited by people’s ability to read
4. Given lack of contact with respondent, never know who really completed the survey
5. Unable to probe for additional details
6. Good survey questions are hard to write and they take considerable time to develop and hone 

Observations -

Advantages:

1. Collect data where and when an event or activity is occurring
2. Does not rely on people’s willingness to provide information
3. Directly see what people do rather than relying on what they say they do

Disadvantages:

1. Susceptible to observer bias
2. Hawthorne effect – people usually perform better when they know they are being observed
3. Does not increase understanding of why people behave the way they do

- Interviews can be structured, semi-structured, or unstructured.  Structured and semi-structured are designed to be replicated.  Questions can be open or closed (format)
- Focus groups are a type of group interview.
- Questionnaires are a cheap and easy way to reach large numbers of people

• Both qualitative and quantitative data can be collected using above four techniques.

There are 4 key issues accompanied with data gathering,

Setting goals

• Decide how to analyse data once collected

Relationship with participants

• Clear and professional
• Informed consent when appropriate

Triangulation

• Use more than one approach

Pilot studies

• Small trial of main study

Recording data is important as they might be useful for future study and for refinement purposes. Also recording data is important to finally evaluate the outcome of the process as well. Data can be recorded using notes, photographs, audio or video.


Qualitative data and Quantitative data: