Process
How to run an AEIOU field study
Five steps from research question to synthesis
This is the five-step workflow for an AEIOU field study, from the research question to cross-participant synthesis. It is written for UX researchers and product managers running observational research with one or more colleagues. The key habits are coding notes during the session and holding a debrief within 24 hours while observations are fresh.
Where this appears
What's in this process
- Define the question: Write a one-sentence research question before any field visit.
- Recruit and schedule: Find 5 to 8 participants whose context matches the question, and get consent.
- Observe and code live: Spend 60 to 120 minutes in their real context and code each row as it happens.
- Debrief within 24 hours: Walk every row as a team and mark the surprises.
- Synthesize across participants: Cluster rows by column on a shared board and look for patterns.
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<a href="https://www.koji.so/visuals/aeiou-field-study-five-steps"><img src="https://www.koji.so/visuals/aeiou-field-study-five-steps/aeiou-field-study-five-steps.png" alt="Process showing five steps of an AEIOU field study: define the question, recruit, observe and code live, debrief within 24 hours, synthesize." width="1200" height="739" /></a>
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.koji.so/visuals/aeiou-field-study-five-steps">How to run an AEIOU field study</a>, Koji</p>
