How Lessons Learned from Our Youngest Users Can Help Us Evolve our Practices
Summary
Every researcher wants to get the most out of a testing session but that’s easier said than done. It requires expert navigation of the nuances of different personalities, distinct power dynamics, and the varied abilities of each participant. Dovetail’s Head of Design and Research, Lucy Denton sits down with Mila Kuznetsova, Senior Director of User Research and Product at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt to get a better insight into her experiments with methodologies and techniques as she’s navigated testing with a distinct participant group—children. In this session, we’ll hear from Mila about staying nimble, adjusting her approach to cater to the individual, and how we could bring the same level of understanding and grace to testing with adults. This session isn’t to be missed!
Key Insights
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Children require uniquely tailored research methods; you cannot simply simplify adult tests for them.
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Recruitment of child participants involves persuading adult gatekeepers and gaining multiple consents, adding complexity.
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Young children benefit from short, multi-activity sessions using simple language and tactile tools like touchscreens or crafts.
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Parents’ involvement can both assist and hinder sessions; assigning them tasks keeps them engaged without skewing the data.
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Middle schoolers can handle longer sessions and complex tasks but may become self-critical or distracted in groups.
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One-on-one sessions are more effective with middle schoolers to avoid off-topic disruptions common in group settings.
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Children’s unique creativity and perspectives often surpass adults’ ability to design engaging content or characters.
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Adaptability and a growth mindset in research protocols are crucial when working with children due to fast developmental changes.
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Cultural and language differences necessitate matched-language researchers and special sensitivity during consent and sessions.
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Lessons from child research—like checking comprehension, accommodating power dynamics, and flexible feedback—improve all user research.
Notable Quotes
"Kids are not little adults. You can’t just simplify the text and call it for kids."
"Recruiting kids really means recruiting adults as their proxies and gatekeepers."
"Make sure children understand they can stop the session at any time, and confirm they really get that."
"Giving parents something meaningful to do during sessions helps keep them engaged and supportive."
"Middle schoolers might ask you tough questions about release forms and how their data will be used."
"A growth mindset in research means being ready to adapt protocols based on what actually works with participants."
"Sometimes with kids, you just have to get artifactual data or creative outputs because they can’t always articulate."
"If a group session with middle schoolers goes off the rails, one-on-one sessions can save the research."
"Matching researchers by language and culture makes children more comfortable and improves consent."
"Power dynamics exist in every session. People don’t want to be embarrassed or feel put on the spot."
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