| Unit name | User Research |
|---|---|
| Unit code | INOVM0025 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Mr. Bartlett |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | Centre for Innovation |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Why is this unit important?
In this unit, you'll gain a toolkit of human-centred user research methods and practical experience in using them. This will allow you to deeply understand your target users and test your creative ideas in real-world settings. You'll use participatory design and co-production to build your understanding of users, customers, and stakeholders, discovering where you can create value for them. Ultimately, this unit aims to give you a crucial understanding of marketplace advantage and prevent you from wasting time, money, and effort by against the wrong problem. You will learn to clearly define target audiences, carry out a range of appropriate user research methodologies, and evaluate your ideas based on your research findings.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
In this unit, you will explore how and where to conduct research utilising a variety of different user-centred methodologies. You will look at how researchers have produced theories to fit behavioural observations, recognise factors that limit the use of user research methods, and how to carry out analysis of data captured from user research.
An overview of content
This unit provides the core professional methodology and academic knowledge for conducting primary user research in a responsible and ethical manner. You will learn a wealth of practical methods for gathering and analysing user research data.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of this unit
You will gain competence and confidence in conducting and analysing user research. You'll be able to select and apply relevant methods to a range of real and hypothetical scenarios. You will understand and be able to articulate the value of truly understanding your user before developing solutions. Furthermore, you will be able to reflect on the development of your professional research practice.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
Teaching will be delivered through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous sessions, including lectures, group meetings and workshops supported by collaborative and self-directed learning.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Portfolio of Research (group assessment), 3000 words or equivalent (60%) [ILOs 1,2,3,4, and 5]
Reflective Summary (individual assessment), 2000 words or equivalent (40%) [ILOs 1,2,3,4, and 5]
When assessment does not go to plan
When required by the Board of Examiners, you will normally complete reassessments in the same formats as those outlined above. However, the Board reserves the right to modify the form or number of reassessments required. Details of reassessments are normally confirmed by the School shortly after the notification of your results at the end of the academic year.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. INOVM0025).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
