User experiments Sample Clauses

User experiments. Field and laboratory experiments are employed to validate what users say they do, by observing what they actually do in practice. This technique is an important element of the user requirements work (WP1), interface design and development (WP4), and system testing and evaluation (WP5). We propose to use experiments to observe the creation of both explicit paths (created intentionally), and implicit paths (created unintentionally). Explicit paths will be created by both expert and non-expert users with different objectives and intended use. Implicit paths will be created by anyone using the system and will be identified within the log stream data generated as users interact with the PATHS system. At the early stages of user requirements gathering our attention is on explicit paths generated primarily by expert users. As we do not have a working system, paths must be created using either low-fidelity (e.g. paper and pencil) or medium-fidelity (e.g. electronic drawing tools, Powerpoint) techniques, or through the use of other systems with an element of path-creation functionality. Our use of this method is therefore limited to project staff, plus a convenient group of non-expert (student) users at a partner institution. The purpose of these early experiments is to validate, to some degree, task and path- focussed findings of the data from our desk research, questionnaires and interviews, but also to act as a pilot for future experiments, allowing us to test format and task designs. Going forwards, we will focus on more rigorous laboratory experiments where groups of users from each domain, both expert and non-expert, will be given representative tasks to complete using the PATHS prototypes. These experiments will generate both measurable and less measurable data that will inform the iterative process of system refinement. Experiments on implicit paths will not be possible until we have a working system for users to test. We will then use log data generated during the experiments and from general use to extract typical paths based upon actual behaviour. We also intend to analyse these implicit paths for evidence of cognitive styles, as one potential basis for personalisation and recommendation within the PATHS system.