Tool details
Fly On The Wall
You collect data by seeing and listening, without any interaction with the user.
Tool category:
Tool thumbnail
When to use
You want to observe how a user behaves without your interaction and through their actions, not their words.
Why you should
To observe and understand the user's interaction with the topic of research and not just what they say.
What you get
A list of findings according to your observations and input to whether your hypothesis are correct or not.
Steps to take
Start by defining some hypothesises. Find out what you want to research.
Find someone that you want to observe in the situation you want to research. Explain to them that they should pretend that you are not present.
Document while observing as a fly on the wall. Do not interact in any form. You can take notes, pictures or record. Remember to inform and ask for consent if you record.
Summarise and analyse the findings.
Further reading
Even though you don't interact with the user, remember that people know that you are there and that it might affect their behaviour.