116 | Unobtrusive Measures |
Physical evidence, archival records, and nonintrusive observations used for design insight
- This method is used to acquire information without direct participant contact.
- Examples of physical trace erosion measures include wear patterns in floors or grass indicating preferred pedestrian traffic.
- Examples of accretion measures include litter, graffiti, temporary signage, product modifications, or finger-prints to indicate patterns of use.
- Archives are considered unobtrusive measures because they may be accessed without direct contact with participants.
- Observation can be an unobtrusive measure when those being observed do not know it and the researcher has had no input in the situation structure.
- Digital footprints provide indicators of technology use and qualities of social interaction and communication.
- A limitation may be a lack of details about who has contributed to the data being collected and why.
See alsoArtifact Analysis • Fly-on-the-Wall Observation • Secondary Research
Trace erosion measures are wear-patterns, such as these preferred pathways or “desire lines.” Trace accretion measures include additive deposits such as graffiti and litter.
Courtesy of Ana Paula Alencar Rocha / yayaomo.tumblr
Photo by Cheryl L. G. Riedel, courtesy of Miso Kim
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