How can you conduct user research for safety-critical applications?

1 Define the context

Before you start any user research, you need to understand the context of use for your safety-critical application. This means identifying the users, their goals, tasks, workflows, environments, constraints, and risks. You also need to consider the regulatory, ethical, and legal requirements that apply to your domain. You can use methods such as interviews, observations, surveys, or document analysis to gather contextual information from stakeholders, experts, and potential users.

2 Choose the methods

Once you have a clear picture of the context, you can choose the most appropriate user research methods for your safety-critical application. Some of the factors that can influence your choice are the stage of development, the availability of users, the type and level of feedback you need, and the resources and time you have. You can use methods such as usability testing, heuristic evaluation, cognitive walkthrough, or task analysis to evaluate the usability, functionality, and reliability of your safety-critical application.

3 Plan the logistics

User research for safety-critical applications requires careful planning and preparation to ensure the safety and well-being of the participants and the researchers. You need to define the objectives, scope, and criteria of your research, as well as the roles and responsibilities of the team members. You also need to recruit and screen the participants, obtain their informed consent, and protect their privacy and data. Moreover, you need to prepare the materials, equipment, and environment for your research, and have contingency plans for any unexpected situations.

4 Conduct the research

When you conduct user research for safety-critical applications, you need to follow the ethical and professional standards of your field and respect the rights and dignity of the participants. You need to communicate clearly and respectfully with the participants, explain the purpose and process of your research, and answer any questions they may have. You also need to monitor and record the research activities, such as the user interactions, behaviors, reactions, and feedback. Additionally, you need to be alert and ready to intervene if any problems or risks arise during the research.

6 Communicate the results

The final step of user research for safety-critical applications is to communicate the results to the relevant stakeholders, such as the clients, developers, or regulators. You need to present the results in a clear, concise, and convincing way, using the appropriate format, language, and visuals. You also need to highlight the key findings, implications, and recommendations, and show how they relate to the objectives and criteria of your research. Moreover, you need to acknowledge the limitations and challenges of your research, and suggest the next steps or actions to follow.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?