This week in IXD501, we were taught the importance of research methods when pitching our ideas. These methods include formal/informal interviews, surveys or questionnaires, online forums and competitor reviews etc. From this present moment, we should finalise on our idea choices and chose the one we want to create. From then, conduct a few of these research methods to ask family members, peers, colleagues and friends for their input on the topic. By doing this, we can identify whether our chosen product needs to exist or not and if it does, we can gather people's insight which can be the driving force to our user research.

My chosen idea is to create a VR application for first-time MRI patients, to prepare them for their scan. If I have to use any research methods, I would potentially create a quick survey for patients to conduct, highlighting their experiences with MRI scans. As well as this, if I am able to, I would like to have a informal talk with radiographers asking them of their experience with first-time patients of MRI scans. However, this may be difficult as a radiographer’s job is very busy and really important not just to patients, but to the health service as a whole. This may also mean that I will not be able to observe any MRI scans either. Either way, I would like to gather both qualitative and quantitative data on the topic.

In this weeks lecture, we also discussed how we need to empathise, define, ideate, prototype and test our idea. With the empathy stage, I can relate to an MRI patient, as I have previously said, I have had many MRI scans within the last 8 years and I know how it feels to be in the position of the patient, which should help with the designing of the application. However, as also discussed, I need to be aware of user bias. For example, my experience of an MRI scan could be completely different to another person's, hence why I need to create a survey - this will be my next task.

Afterwards, I hope to gather information from these patients and then try and find any patterns. I will then create empathy maps and user personas to help with this process.