Design research turns questions about people, contexts, and experiences into evidence that can guide responsible design decisions. This course introduces a systematic process for framing research, selecting qualitative methods, conducting fieldwork, synthesizing findings, and communicating actionable insights.
Week 10: Study Protocol Setup #2 · Qualitative Questions
Opening Questions
What can participants tell us that numerical measures cannot?
How might the wording of a question shape a participant's answer?
What prompts can elicit concrete experiences rather than abstract opinions?
Learning Goal
Construct clear and unbiased qualitative questions, interview prompts, and questionnaires, then integrate them into a complete and reviewable study protocol.
Lecture Materials
FC Lecture: Qualitative Study Questions: Capturing User Reasoning and Experience
Study Materials Pack Template
Protocol-to-Method Mapping Table
Unlocks when Week 9 class ends
Oct. 30, 4:00 PM (KST)
In-class Activity
In-class Lecture:
Qualitative question design, moderator consistency, and common wording problems
Protocol completeness, consent, debriefing, ethics, and the distinction between operational materials and Method writing
In-class Activity:
Develop and audit qualitative questions
Assemble the moderator script and participant materials
Complete the Protocol-to-Method Mapping Table
Conduct a protocol walkthrough and ethics check
In-class Submission:
Study Materials Pack working version + Protocol-to-Method Mapping · one per team
Unlocks when Week 9 class ends
Oct. 30, 4:00 PM (KST)
Homework
FCWatch ‘Running a Pilot Study.’DueNov. 13
HomeworkFinalize the Study Materials Pack and conduct at least one pilot session. No full Method prose is due this week.View Homework 8 →Due2026.11.13
Key Takeaways
Good qualitative questions ask about concrete experiences rather than abstract opinions.
Leading, double-barreled, or overly broad questions reduce the credibility of the evidence.
The protocol should be usable consistently across participants.
Consent, privacy, anonymization, and data handling are part of the research method.
Available after class
Unlocks Nov. 6, 4:00 PM (KST), when this class ends.
Related Readings
No required paper
Review any published measurement or interview protocol adapted by the team