Contextual Inquiry 

Methodology

To better understand our users' needs, we performed a Contextual Inquiry with multiple people. First we gave them a specified task. We then used the Guided Tour IDEO method to accompany the users as they performed the task, narrating where they were going, what they were doing, and how they made their decisions. We then asked some questions from a list we defined in order to ensure some common questions were either observed or answered. Sessions were recorded and later transcribed. 

Task Prompt

We handed users 5 recipes with various ingredients. We asked them to plan as if they were preparing to make those recipes in the coming days. This included checking their pantries, refrigerators, and freezers to ensure they had the appropriate ingredients in the proper quantities.

Below are the recipes we used, sourced from our group members:

The follow-up questions were as follows:

• Things to observe

  • How many times do they recheck an area while making a list or looking for recipe items?

  • How many times do they check for multiple items with the doors standing open?

  • How often do they go through expired items and throw them away?

• Questions to ask after observing

  • How often is an overall visual check of the pantry done? Twice a day, daily, every other day, weekly?

  • How often do they perceive they recheck an area while making a list?

  • How often do they perceive they check for multiple items with the doors standing open?

  • How often do they perceive they go through expired items and throw them away?

  • How often do they find themselves looking in the fridge for an item that is unopened in the cupboard?

    • -When this happens how often does the item get repurchased because it was not noticed?

  • Do they “stock up” on certain items? 

    • -Is the extra stored in the pantry or somewhere else like a chest freezer or in a cupboard in a garage or basement?

• Tasks with observations to make

• Show each area of the pantry

  • Single family arrangement or communal living arrangement

  • Fridge arrangement 

    • Are the fruits and vegetables all together or separated by purpose

    • Is there a separate drawer for lunchmeat and cheese

    • Where is the milk kept on the door or inside

    • If in a communal living situation how do they separate their groceries

      • Are containers or dividers used 

      • Are they split up by shelf

      • Is there any possibility of groceries getting mixed up with other roommates

  • Freezer arrangement

    • Is there meat 

    • Are there desserts

    • Is there convenience food 

    • Is there homemade food

      • if in a communal living situation how do they separate their groceries

        • • Are containers or dividers used 

      • Are they split up by shelf

      • Is there any possibility of groceries getting mixed up with other roommates

  • Cupboard pantry arrangement

    • Are the canned foods all together or separated by purpose

    • Is all the pasta stored together

      • Is there an area for snacks

    • Is there an area that is meant to be out of reach for children

    • Are the “stock up” items that normally go in the fridge all in one place

      • if in a communal living situation how do they separate their groceries

        • • Are containers or dividers used 

      • Are they split up by shelf

      • Is there any possibility of groceries getting mixed up with other roommates

  • Chest Freezer arrangement(optional)

  • Outside kitchen (garage or basement) pantry arrangement(optional)

Transcripts

J1 and A1

M1 and T1

P1

P2

M2

S1

S2