Categorize

i. Electronic Survey

ii. Card Sorting

iii. Facilitated Team Workshop

iv. Trade Show

Direct Method

1. Card Sorting

• This is a technique used to establish hierarchical groupings of information for web sites.

• It is normally used only after gathering substantial site content information using other analysis techniques.

• Potential content topics are placed on individual index cards and users are asked to sort the cards into groupings that are meaningful to them.

• Card sorting assists in building the site’s structure, map and page content.

• The sorting can also be accomplished on web.

2.Facilitated Team Workshop

• A facilitated team workshop is similar in structure and content to a traditional focus group but is slightly less formal.
• A common technique used in system requirements determination for many years, it is now being replaced (at least in name) by focus groups.
• Team workshops have had the potential to provide much useful information. Like focus groups, they do require a great deal of time to organize and run.

Indirect Method

1. Electronic Survey

i. A questionnaire or survey is administered to a sample of users via e-mail or the web.

ii. Characteristics, advantages and disadvantages are similar to paper surveys and questionnaires.

iii. They are, however, significantly less expensive then mailed surveys.

iv. The speed of their return can also be much faster than those distributed in a paper format.

v. In creating an electronic survey:

• Determine the survey objectives.
• Determine where you will find the people to complete the survey.
• Create a mix of multiple choice and open-ended questions requiring short answers addressing the survey objectives.
• Keep it short, about 10 items or less is preferable.
• Keep it simple, requiring no more than 5-10 minutes to complete.

vi. Also consider a follow-up more detailed survey, or surveys, called iterative surveys. Ask people who complete and return the initial survey if they are willing to answer more detailed questions. If so, create and send the more detailed survey.

vii. Among other things, the detailed survey content can address questions the initial survey raises.

viii. A useful follow-up survey goal is to ask the participant to prioritize their needs and to rank expected user tasks according to their importance.

ix. A third follow-up survey can also be designed to gather additional information about the most important requirements and tasks.

x. Iterative surveys, of course, take a longer time to complete.

xi. Don’t forget to thank participants for their help and time.

2.Trade Show

i. Customers at a trade show can be exposed to a mock-up or prototype and asked for comments.

ii. This method is dependent on the knowledge level of the customers and may provide only superficial view of most prominent features.