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Development of an Interactive Tool for Asynchronous Collaboration in Target Group Analysis

This project focused on creating an interactive tool to facilitate asynchronous collaboration between users and facilitators within the context of target audience analysis. The design was guided by principles from Ability-Based Design (ABD), which helped ensure the tool aligned with users’ actual abilities, minimizing incorrect assumptions. Using a mixed-methods approach, we researched the primary challenges within target audience analysis and developed a structured overview, which highlighted critical barriers such as identifying and involving the target audience, limited time and financial resources, and user motivation. The lack of direct ABD findings led us to reframe these challenges in terms of ABD principles to address the initial research question.

Role

UX Researcher, Designer & Developer

Context

Master Thesis | 6 months

Timespan

04/2024 - 11/2024

Keywords

Asynchronous Collaboration, Target Group Analysis, Human-Computer Interaction, Ability-Based Design, Ability-Based User Stories, User Participation, Tool Development

Research

Research Questions #1

What are the key challenges for researchers without direct access to users during the analysis phase (in the context of Ability-Based Design)?

Shows the Research Steps

Reaching and engaging the right audience is complex, requiring significant time and resources. The asynchronous nature of the tool added to this challenge, as users needed to navigate it without direct guidance. Budget and time limitations restricted both the tool’s development and user testing scope, impacting the iterative feedback cycle needed for an optimized design. Engaging users with an asynchronous tool required building clear user stories that communicated the tool’s benefits, making user engagement essential for success.

Shows a Mindmap with Challenges

Requirements

Research Questions #2

What requirements must a tool meet to address these challenges effectively in target audience analysis?

The approach centered on creating requirements that addressed these challenges by splitting them into two categories:

Components of the Tool

  1. System Requirements included technical and functional elements, such as integrated feedback mechanisms, which allowed users to ask questions and receive tailored responses asynchronously.

  2. Method Requirements emphasized asynchronous techniques and interactions, ensuring users could communicate their needs and capabilities without being present in real time.

To answer the second research question, these requirements were directly derived from the challenges outlined in Research Question 1, forming a foundation for the tool’s design.

Application

Research Questions #3

How can the requirements identified in Research Question 2 be addressed using an interactive CoCoA model?

Displays the Adaption of the Method

To address Research Question 3, the CoCoA model was integrated with Quant UX to structure the tool’s interactive framework. The implementation began by adapting the CoCoA model through several iterative steps. The core element was creating a matrix to represent Ability-Context Relations. This nuanced approach allows the tool to cater to diverse user needs by dynamically modeling abilities in relation to different environmental and situational factors.

Displays first Iteration of the Designs

Quant UX’s support for asynchronous feedback further enhanced the ability to observe user behaviors over time without direct interaction. The tool’s survey components and live test replay capabilities were essential in analyzing user feedback, enabling iterative adjustments to the design in response to real-world user input.

6 Students from different backgrounds

Think-Aloud Method & Questionare

Displays the different Color

In addition, Ability-Based User Stories were crafted using a template approach, which included fill-in-the-blank sections within Quant UX. This method allowed participants to articulate their needs based on their abilities and context, providing more structured yet flexible inputs.

Iterative Evaluation Process

An iterative evaluation process was conducted in both asynchronous and synchronous modes to simulate real-world use and identify the tool’s strengths and areas for improvement.

6 Students from different backgrounds

asynchronous and synchronous modes

These evaluations included testing simplified Ability-Based User Stories with users and reviewing changes with facilitators.

3 Experts who already knew the CoCoA tool

Workshop Szeanrio

Key Learnings

Learning #1

Research enables the groundwork

Thorough research lays a solid foundation for success by uncovering user needs, market trends, and potential risks. It ensures clarity, focus, and informed decision-making.

Learning #2

Close alignment with the user is important

Continuous user engagement ensures the product meets expectations, builds trust, and fosters stronger adoption through iterative feedback and collaboration.

The project received a grade of 1.0.