Developing a Guide to Support Remote User Experience Research Process

The project aimed to examine the remote user experience research practices under the social isolation conditions brought by the COVID-19 epidemic and to develop a guide to support remote user experience research based on this review. Within the scope of the project, global and national experiences on the subject in the early stages of the epidemic were examined. Although there are studies that have been canceled or postponed due to the epidemic, user experience research studies have been moved to digital environments and continued without slowing down. While the remote working environment required by the epidemic conditions presents difficulties in various issues such as planning user experience research, sample inclusiveness, adaptation to the participant, context observation, interactive presentation environment and team communication, the ability to conduct the research independently of the place offers various advantages and disadvantages in participant management and systematic working. provided opportunities. In addition, it has been seen that the research questions and needs determined by the companies, the approach of the customer company to the user experience research and the infrastructure of the researcher play an important role in the user experience research setup. It has been determined that the definitions of 'research validity' in this field differ from scientific acceptance at certain points. As a result of the study, the processes experienced in the practice of user experience research, the methods and tools used were determined. In line with the information obtained, a framework was created regarding the issues to be considered in remote user research, and a guide was developed to support remote user experience research in this direction. There are important points that user experience researchers should pay attention to in the remote working conditions required by the epidemic environment. Preparedness for remote research sessions should be ensured through detailed method setup, technical infrastructure preparation, and participant recognition and information. Attention should be paid to the concept of validity in research and the difference between this concept in practice and scientific meaning, and researchers should improve themselves by receiving the necessary training on this subject. In this context, it is foreseen that the guide developed during the project will be a guide for the employees conducting research in the field and can be included in the courses and training programs developed on this subject.