Why?

This deliverable/template was created in an effort to analyze data in much more rigorous, comprehensive way.  It was originally developed to organize prototype test data collected in, say, Word, but it has been adapted to allow collection of data directly in Excel. While I have not yet used it for other forms of qualitative research, it is structured such that it should be easy to adapt to them.

How?

I started out with just the All Data sheet, but then I realized it would be easier to separate each task’s data into its own sheet, and to have pre and post-task questions on their own sheet as well.

Once the data is in the template, it is very easy for me to analyze both task performance across users as well as the sessions of individual participants.

So What?

I’ve used this template on two projects so far. In both cases, it has allowed me to quantify certain qualitative observations. E.g, “X users exhibited pattern A, and Y users exhibited pattern B.” It has also allowed me to separate individual data points better than I’ve been able to before, which makes the data easier to play with in order to extract insights that are not otherwise obvious.

Deliverable(s)

Instructions for using the template and a link to the Excel file.

You can view or download the deliverable here or here

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