Doing research with and for people: design research methods for science and technology
ENG-655 / 2 credits
Teacher(s): Baez Lugo Sebastian Eduardo, Groves Emily Clare, Henchoz Nicolas, Ribes Lemay Delphine
Language: English
Frequency
Every year
Summary
This course equips PhD students with user research methods to connect their doctoral work with society through hands-on, project-based learning. The practical skills and theory learnt are applicable at every stage of the PhD and for future careers in academia or industry.
Content
Science and technology are shaped by and accountable to the societies they emerge from and serve. This reality is increasingly reflected in the expectations of funding bodies in both academia and industry, which now routinely require technical and scientific proposals to meaningfully engage with their stakeholders.
This course equips PhD students across all disciplines with the theoretical and practical tools needed to strengthen the connection between their doctoral research and the wider world.
Drawing on theory from cognitive science, design research, and human-computer interaction, participants will be introduced to a rich set of user research methods and guided in applying them directly to their own PhD projects. The methods covered span the full arc of the doctoral journey.
- At the beginning: learn how to contextualise projects within real societal needs through semi-structured interviews, diary studies, surveys, and qualitative data analysis.
- In the middle: explore how workshops and heuristic evaluations can align proposed directions with people's perceptions and expectations.
- Towards the end: gain experience with developing user evaluation protocols such as usability testing and A/B testing, and mixed-methods data analysis techniques for assessing the relevance and impact of contributions.
The course also addresses the practical and ethical dimensions of working with human participants, including how to prepare Human Research Ethics applications and recruit participants effectively.
The course is built around hands-on learning. It opens with three classes covering key theory and methods, each incorporating in-class exercises, followed by an orientation session to help every student identify the methods best suited to their own research. For the remainder of the semester, students develop a user research plan and carry it out with real participants. The course culminates in a presentation to the class and a concise one-page report.
Keywords
Research impact
Stakeholder engagement
User research methods
Impact-oriented PhD research
Societal relevance
Learning Prerequisites
Required courses
None
Recommended courses
None
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, the student must be able to:
- Discuss the importance of involving people in research to achieve scientific impact within society
- Identify appropriate user research methods based on project stage
- Construct an appropriate and adapted user research plan
- Conduct research activities with key stakeholders
- Report findings from user research
Resources
Bibliography
Chapman, C., & Rodden, K. (2023). Quantitative User Experience Research: Informing Product Decisions by Understanding Users at Scale. Apress. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4842-9268-6
Braun, V., & and Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77-101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Websites
Moodle Link
In the programs
- Number of places: 20
- Exam form: Written & Oral (session free)
- Subject examined: Doing research with and for people: design research methods for science and technology
- Courses: 8 Hour(s)
- Exercises: 6 Hour(s)
- Project: 21 Hour(s)
- TP: 30 Hour(s)
- Type: optional