Participatory Methods
5W1H Method
5W1H Method gives teams a repeatable qualitative research practice. It keeps everyone aligned around problem discovery by helping you gain a deeper understanding of design problems, frame the problem accurately, and achieve a comprehensive problem-solving approach. Grounded in participatory methods, the method turns insight into tangible next steps.
Goal
Problem Discovery
Group
Qualitative Research
Users
Direct User Involvement
Overview
The 6 Questions method is a comprehensive questioning technique that answers Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How. It's a versatile approach used in various fields such as journalism, research, and problem-solving. By addressing these six essential questions, it provides a complete overview of a situation, event, or problem. It ensures that all critical aspects are covered, leading to a well-rounded understanding. This method fosters clarity and can be applied to anything from project planning to investigative reporting.
Step-by-Step Procedure
6 steps to complete
1
What?
In this step, you clearly define the problem or the research question you aim to address. Specify what needs to be understood about user behavior, needs, and preferences. This is crucial for formulating an effective research strategy
2
Why?
Once you've defined the research question, you'll need to determine why this problem or question is essential to the user experience. Define the goals and objectives of your study and how they align with your overall business strategy. Understanding the 'Why' will help you build a solid foundation for your research.
3
Who?
Identify the target user group for your research, based on their demographics, interests, and behavior patterns. Create user personas to better empathize with and understand the end-users' needs. The 'Who' helps you develop a user-centric approach while conducting UX research.
4
When?
Determine the ideal timeframe to conduct your UX research. This should take account of factors like product lifecycle stages (e.g., design, development, launch), project deadlines, or key business events. The 'When' ensures that your research findings are timely and relevant.
5
Where?
Select the most suitable research location(s) based on your research question, target user group, and project constraints. Consider whether in-person or remote research methods are more appropriate based on resource availability, travel restrictions, or participant location preferences. The 'Where' step helps you optimize research logistics and efficiency.
6
How?
Choose the most suitable UX research method(s) for answering your research question, such as interviews, surveys, usability testing, or focus groups. Additionally, outline the procedures and tools you'll use to collect, analyze, and present your data. The 'How' ensures that your research process is well-defined and systematic.
Method Complete
Real-World Examples
See how this method is applied in practice
Deal Search Relevance Issues
Investigation into why Groupon users report difficulty finding relevant deals in their area. The research examined search behavior, filtering usage, and result satisfaction across different categories. Analysis revealed that location detection was sometimes inaccurate and that category filters didn't align with how users conceptualized their needs (e.g., searching for "date night" vs. "restaurants").
Merchant Dashboard Adoption Problem
Research into why merchants weren't regularly using the Merchant Center analytics dashboard despite having access. The study uncovered that merchants found the metrics overwhelming and didn't understand how to act on the data. Root causes included lack of benchmarking context, unclear metric definitions, and missing actionable recommendations.
Deliverables
What you'll produce from this method
Who Analysis
Identify and document the target users, stakeholders, and their specific needs and expectations.
What Analysis
Explore the tasks, user goals, functions, and features that need to be addressed in the product or service.
Where Analysis
Analyze the physical and virtual contexts or environments where users will interact with the product or service.
When Analysis
Determine the timing, frequency, and duration of user interactions and identify any time-sensitive factors or constraints.
Why Analysis
Investigate the motivations, objectives, and desired outcomes for users and the business.
How Analysis
Establish the interaction flow, processes, and necessary resources or tools to support the user experience.
Related
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