User experience research using video calls, A case study

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has forced user experience (UX) designers to make their research comply with social distant roles, because of this many have turned to using computer mediated communication (CMC) tools. Even though research has shown that interviewing in person is marginally superior to video call interviews, user experience research is often conducted using more than one method. Therefore, this thesis aims to investigate how user experience professionals are using video call as the main communication method for their user centered data gathering. Eleven UX professionals from one company were interviewed about ten different projects, focusing on the project execution and the methods used. The results show different ways of using video calls to interview, workaround methods to replace in person observation and, drawbacks and benefits from using CMC tools to gather data. Indicating that some projects are better suited to the use of video calls then others and suggest possible benefits from using both CMC tools and well as in person methods to gather data.