User Research
Contextual inquiry in UX: Your guide to insights through observation
UX Research Glossary / Contextual Inquiry
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Contextual inquiry is a UX research method where researchers observe users in their natural environments like their office or home, to see how they interact with a product. While users perform tasks, researchers ask open-ended questions such as “What were you expecting here?” or “Why did you choose that action?”. This helps researchers understand user decisions, challenges, and workflows and gain insights that can inform design improvements.