Framework
Five ethnographic research methods for UX
A one-page summary of the five ethnographic methods product and UX teams use to see what people do rather than what they say. Each method has a line on how it works and when it earns its place, from participant observation and shadowing to contextual inquiry and diary studies. Use it to choose a method for discovery work. Koji can follow up on what you observed with AI-moderated interviews.
Where this appears
What's in this framework
- Participant observation: Spend time in the user's setting and take part in the work. Note the routines, workarounds and social habits behind how tools get used.
- Field studies: Research done where people actually are: home, workplace, commute or point of sale. Shows the physical and social context of use.
- Contextual inquiry: Watch real tasks and ask questions as an apprentice learning from the expert. Sessions usually run 1 to 2 hours per participant.
- Shadowing: Follow one person through their day without stepping in. Good for seeing decisions, workflows and where each tool fits.
- Diary studies: Participants log text, photos or video over days or weeks, covering the moments when no researcher can be there.
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<a href="https://www.koji.so/visuals/five-ethnographic-research-methods"><img src="https://www.koji.so/visuals/five-ethnographic-research-methods/five-ethnographic-research-methods.png" alt="Framework showing five ethnographic research methods: participant observation, field studies, contextual inquiry, shadowing and diary studies." width="1080" height="1080" /></a>
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.koji.so/visuals/five-ethnographic-research-methods">Five ethnographic research methods for UX</a>, Koji</p>
