Author(s):

Intille, Stephen, S.; Rondoni, John; Kukla, Charles; Ancona , Isabel; Bao, Ling

Title:

A Context-Aware Experience Sampling Tool

Publication:

CHI '03 Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems

Keywords:

anthropology; anthropology-visual; context-aware computing; diary studies; diary studies-photographic; ethnographic study; ethnography-video; experience sampling method; field studies; focus groups; interviews; naturalistic observation; qualitative research methods; quantitative research methods; self-reporting; social sciences; usability; usability testing; user evaluation; user questionnaire

Paper Summary:

This paper presents a context-aware experience sampling tool that will allow researchers to gather context-sensitive information about users' actions in order to develop off-the-desktop applications.

The authors note the limitations of other data gathering methods used to learn about users' tasks, including: interviews, focus groups, site visits, user logs / diaries, photographic / video analysis, and experience sampling.

The context-aware experience sampling tools extends the benefits of the experience sampling method (ESM), a technique in which users are prompted (usually based on a time schedule) to answer questions relevant to his/her activities. Not only is ESM less susceptible to subject recall errors, it can also produce a statistical model of behavior with enough subjects and samples.

The context-aware experience sampling tool allows researchers to prompt subjects based on their location, actions, etc. and it not limited to time-based evaluations. The research group at MIT is currently incorporating new attributes including the ability to sample based on heart-rate and to query based on particular activities. The group is currently inviting researchers to suggest other methods of prompting users.

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