Contextual inquiry is a qualitative research method for understanding how potential users interact with their natural environment. It explores a small sample in granular depth rather than focusing only on a digital product, revealing what users do, need, and may be possible to support. section 8.2.10
Use contextual inquiry to investigate:
- Who current and potential users are. section 8.2.10
- What users do with existing data and services. section 8.2.10
- Which opportunities could deliver more user-centered value. section 8.2.10
- Which themes, motivations, wishes, hopes, and data journeys emerge across interviews. section 8.2.10
Energy performance certificates
A team tested certificate designs with real users, removed unhelpful content, and surfaced important information. Contextual inquiry and usability testing exposed user needs and pain points, supporting personas such as the “frequent forecaster.” The findings informed KPIs and two products: a simple public service and property-level APIs for analysts. section 8.2.10
