Scenarios

Purpose & Objectives

Why are you doing this? What are you aiming for?

In a scenario, a researcher wants to understand the thought process of a participant when faced with a particular scenario, so that they can understand exactly how one would go about dealing with different situations. This could be based on past experience or expected behaviour in a novel situation.

Scenarios are used to take into account the characteristics and means of users and how the user will interact with the features of the application.

The ultimate goal is to test how the application will look like in the real world.

Specifies a situation in which a user would interact with the application in the real world, in order to fulfil a task.

Data Sources

Where do you find the knowledge or input needed to do it?

Scenarios can be developed from previous knowledge, experience, or observations of how things are usually done, in order to develop fictitious scenarios that people can find themselves in.

You find the knowledge through creating the contextual inquiry, creating personas, and ultimately creating possible scenarios with your previous results.

Secondly, you may find the knowledge through own experience, similar applications, interviews, and user point of view.

Procedure

How do you do it? Which techniques and tools do you use?

You can create scenarios through coming up with examples of possible situations and putting them in a story format for the user.

The techniques and tools can be gathered through controlled environments, virtual aid, previous scenarios of similar situations, tests, processes at the interface, and trainings.

Outcomes / Results

What do you get once you have done it?

Creating a scenario allows you to see how the procedure of the application will be utilized by the user.

Secondly, it allows you to highlight the features of the application that will be offered through the application.

Thirdly, it allows you to understand the level of complexity of the application.

Fourthly, it allows you to deep dive into real life cases & possible use.

Sixthly, it allows you to gain better understanding of the personas you have created.

Finally, it allows you to notice mistakes in the application.