Remote Research: Real Users, Real Time, Real Research

by Nate Bolt, Tony Tulathimutte

Remote studies allow you to recruit subjects quickly, cheaply, and immediately, and give you the opportunity to observe users as they behave naturally in their own environment. In Remote Research, Nate Bolt and Tony Tulathimutte teach you how to design and conduct remote research studies, top to bottom, with little more than a phone and a laptop.

Genres: Design, Nonfiction, Research, Usability, Ebooks

266 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nate and Tony's book fills in a big missing chunk in user research -- how to conduct user research that doesn't feel forced -- and I'd recommend it to any user researcher. It's true that the variations on user research are pretty endless as it is, and you may ask, "Who needs more methods?" This books answer is that this method gets at users in real time -- a task that's been difficult to accomplish any other way.

The first two thirds of the book are the strongest, and they provide a solid primer of the method along with helpful tips, documenting all the parts of the process, from setup to payment to logistics (including consent), all the way up to video deliverables. Since most readers (including myself) are probably not familiar with the software options, I also appreciated the breakdown of the software options, though I would have preferred a concise, comparative chart in addition to the exhaustive list.

I've tried my hand at "classic" methods like Contextual Inquiry, and I've had marathon Think Aloud sessions. While these two (and others) have their places in the user research spectrum, the appeal of remote research is that its time aware focus takes advantage of real user behaviors, unlike Think Aloud testing, which, while valid, often feels forced or insufficient. After reading this book, if remote research is the best method for the job, I'm going for it.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book did not focus on methodology or study design to the extent that it probably should have. It was full of reviews and information about specific screen-sharing programs and remote user research applications, which probably should have been included as an appendix rather than as a substantive part of the book. There were a few points where the author's advice deviated significantly from what is often imparted in the usability literature. For example, telling a potential respondent that the task will be "easy" is a definite no-no. Also, portraying time-aware research as a way to get real participants (in contrast to lab studies) is not entirely accurate. The people who agree to be a live recruit from a website may differ in some systematic (and potentially important) way from those who don't agree to serve as a participant. I will certainly use this book as a resource for conducting remote research, but I do not think that this is a great resource if you don't already have a solid background in behavioral science.

[Caitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as many answers as I was hoping for in this book - a lot of the suggestions are either stuff I've figured out on my own already, or are not possible for me to do given the setup of the applications that I test. Oh, well. It's a well-considered book anyway, just a bit more basic than I think it should have been.

[Breanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book’s cover is incredibly sensual! It’s smooth and velvety, like silk. As a former designer, I’ve tested numerous papers, but this one stands out. Whenever I’m stressed, I can’t resist running my fingers over it. No other book’s cover compares.

Now, let’s move on to the book’s contents.

The authors present balanced arguments for two approaches to remote research—moderated vs. automated. They cover topics such as user recruitment and remote research protocols. However, it lacks a comprehensive focus on methodology and study design. Instead, it concentrates on reviews and information about screen-sharing programs and remote user research applications, most of which are outdated now.

The book inspired me to consider natural user interactions rather than simulated environments.

While it can be valuable for conducting remote research, it may not be suitable for those without a solid background in behavioral science.

[Vytas Ramanauskas · Rating 4 out of 5]

An outstanding book on UX research. It's a bit out-dated in terms of the tools and technologies used, however, the principles mentioned are more important than ever!! The authors made great points on both moderated and automated research, they are being realistic and telling the story from both sides (not only in favor of the remote research vs lab research).
The book is full of tips and step-by-step guides, lots of examples, and even small case-studies.

It's 2020 and everyone who is involved in the UX field (and especially research) should read this one. Totally recommend.

[Sashko Valyus · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s 2020. We have Zoom and Teams. Screen sharing and video from camera is not a problem. If we’ll skip all technical parts of the book because they become obsolete, I would say that it’s still the most useful book about remote usability testings

[Tomi Ola · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book definitely got me thinking about how to include time-aware research in what I do. Good work by the authors. This is one for the top shelf so I can always return for quick references.

[Bülent Duagi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A practical book making the case for remote user research.
Comes with useful details about different aspects of conducting remote research, from recruiting users to pitching the results to the stakeholders.

Reading the book inspired me to think more about how can a user researcher get to interact with users exactly in the context when they naturally use a product or service, in contrast to a simulated context.

Some additional food for thought is about using mobile devices for remote research, area that's currently in it's infancy and probably will develop super fast as mobile usage has grown steadily lately.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Useful but a bit outdated.

[Alexander Debkaliuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Provides enough detail to make remote research happen in your company. Great asset.

[Geisa Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uma boa ajuda nos estudos e projetos.