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Assessment 2 – User Experience
Specification
Overview
Task description:
The aim of this assessment is to create technology design specifications, based on findings from user experience research in a real-world context. This assessment is based on the proposal presented in assessment 1. Assessment 2 is presented through a report that describes the background, methods, findings, design specifications (for example, a persona and a journey map), a design brief, and detailed appendices.
This is an authentic assessment because user research and creating design specification are key skills of user experience professionals.
Length:
4000 words +/-10% (word length includes in-text referencing and excludes your reference list and appendices) Unit Learning Outcomes assessed:
ULO 1: Apply methods and theories to study people and technologies in real-world contexts.
ULO 2: Create design specifications, ideas and prototypes from real-world insights.
ULO 3: Evaluate the usability and user experience of interactive technology and be aware of the strengths and limitations of the evaluation. ULO 4: Work in a collaborative, ethical and honest manner.
ULO 5: Apply communication skills to create professional deliverables through reports, presentations and visual media.
What you need to do
1. Read the Criterion Reference Assessment Rubric Download Criterion Reference Assessment Rubric.
2. Refine your research proposal (research instruments, and ethics documents) based on feedback from assignment 1.
3. Recruit participants: Invite 2 participants to take part in your study. Collect signed consent forms before you start your research.
4. Collect data: Use the instruments presented in assignment 1 to study the experiences and needs of your participants. Audio/video record your study and take notes and photos. Ensure you keep a copy of your audio/video recordings.
5. Transcribe recordings: transcribe your recordings with the help of an online tool. Anonymize transcripts by changing names to pseudonyms. Anonymize photos by covering faces.
6. Analyze data and write up findings: based on a UX framework, analyse the data thematically to give an overview of key findings. Present data from all methods and participants. Present each theme together with concrete evidence (e.g., interview response, image).
7. Create 2 design specifications based on your findings that describe people (e.g., a journey map) and context (e.g., a rich picture).
8. Create a design brief for a technology design project based on your research: problem(s) to be addressed, objectives of the new design, target audience, and scope of the project.
9. Compile your report: work on activities week by week to build the report.
What you need to present
Compile a report with the following sections:
1. Cover sheet: title, chosen assignment topic, your student name and number
2. Academic honesty statementDownload Academic honesty statement
3. Introduction: briefly specify the aim and scope of your project; reference relevant literature to define the scope and key terms.
4. Methods: describe aim, participants, methods to collect and analyze data; acknowledge limitations; cross-reference appendices.
5. Findings: this is the most important part of your report. Start with a diagram that gives an overview of key themes in your findings. Then describe each theme and present evidence from interview quotes, pictures, observations, etc. to illustrate the key experiences and needs of your participants.
6. Design specifications: based on your findings, present and discuss 2 design specifications that communicate your key findings in an accessible manner, e.g., a journey map and a rich picture.
7. Design brief: conclude with a design brief that summarizes the key problems identified from your research, together with objectives, target audience and scope for the future design project.
8. References: you can use Vancouver or APA referencing; be consistent with the style you use.
9. Appendix: Structure your appendix well so that it is easy to find information and cross-reference appendices in the main report. Include the following sections:
1. Appendix A: Ethics Documents.
Include tailored consent form template, information sheet, recruitment email
2. Appendix B: Methods Used.
Include instruments used in investigation e.g., e.g., interview guide, diary instructions, cultural probes.
3. Appendix C: Anonymized Study Data.
Include anonymized study data e.g., coded interview transcripts, photos, evidence of your analysis e.g., affinity diagrams.
4. Appendix D: Recordings.
Include links to interview audio/video recordings on your QUT OneDrive to provide evidence of your research
___________________________
Report on User Experience Research and Design Specifications
Cover sheet
Title: User Experience Research and Design Specifications
Chosen Assignment Topic: The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health
Student Name and Number: [Insert Name and Number]
Academic honesty statement
I declare that this report is my original work and that all sources used have been appropriately acknowledged. I understand that plagiarism is the act of taking and using the whole or any part of another person’s work and presenting it as my own without proper acknowledgement. I also understand that submitting work that is not my own may lead to the University taking disciplinary action against me.
Introduction
The aim of this project is to investigate the impact of social media on mental health and to develop design specifications for a technology solution that can mitigate the negative effects of social media on mental health. Social media has become an integral part of people’s lives and has revolutionized the way people communicate, share information and connect with others. However, social media use has also been linked to a range of negative effects on mental health, including increased anxiety, depression, and loneliness.
To define the scope and key terms of this project, relevant literature was reviewed on the topic of social media and mental health. The literature review revealed that social media use has both positive and negative effects on mental health, and that the relationship between social media use and mental health is complex and multifaceted. The literature also highlighted the need for research to develop design solutions that can mitigate the negative effects of social media on mental health.
Methods
4.1 Aim
The aim of this study was to investigate the experiences and needs of social media users in relation to their mental health and to develop design specifications for a technology solution that can mitigate the negative effects of social media on mental health.
4.2 Participants
Two participants were recruited for this study through social media advertisements. The participants were selected based on their age (between 18 and 35), frequency of social media use (at least 1 hour per day), and willingness to participate in the study.
4.3 Data Collection and Analysis
Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and the use of cultural probes. The interviews were conducted face-to-face with the participants and were audio-recorded. The cultural probes included a diary to record social media use, a camera to take pictures of social media use, and a questionnaire to document emotional responses to social media use.
The data was transcribed and analyzed thematically using a user experience framework. The key themes that emerged from the analysis were presented in a diagram to give an overview of the findings. The themes were then described in detail, and evidence from the interview transcripts, pictures, and diary entries was used to illustrate the key experiences and needs of the participants.
4.4 Limitations
The main limitation of this study was the small sample size, which may limit the generalizability of the findings. Another limitation was the reliance on self-report measures, which may be subject to biases and inaccuracies.
Findings
5.1 Overview of Key Themes
The key themes that emerged from the data analysis were:
Social comparison and self-esteem
FOMO (fear of missing out)
Social support and connection
Privacy and security concerns
5.2 Theme 1: Social Comparison and Self-esteem
The participants reported that they often compare themselves to others on social media, and that this can have a negative impact on their self-esteem. They described feeling inadequate and insecure when they see other people’s perfectly curated and edited lives on social media. They also reported that social media can create unrealistic expectations for beauty, success, and happiness, and that this can lead to feelings of inadequacy and
