Shadowing

Shadowing is a qualitative research technique that allows the researcher to follow research participants as they perform their daily tasks for a chosen period of time, ranging from a few hours to a few days or weeks. The researcher acts as an observer and does not interfere with the research participants as they go about their daily lives. In user research and design, shadowing is often combined with other methods (focus groups before shadowing, interviews after shadowing etc.) for a more informed analysis of the data gathered. The method involves gaining a great deal of trust to create meaningful rapport. The research process starts with locating the venue and research participants, securing access, and developing trust, continues with shadowing and recording, and ends with an analysis of the set of data (for a detailed description of the method see ).

Case

It does not matter how outgoing your personality might be, it is always possible to be overtaken by an attack of interview shyness. This surprising condition can be something mild – either occasional or persistent – that the researcher deals with without much trouble. It often appears as a vague sense of reluctance to finalise arrangements for an appointment and can stretch into a dimly felt hope that the interviewee will fail to respond to your ring on their doorbell. “Maybe” you find yourself thinking wishfully, “the person has forgotten, been called away suddenly to deal with a crisis and couldn’t call me.” It is a feeling that thankfully almost always evaporates when your interviewee opens the door to greet you with a smile.
Later, happy with your lively and informative interview in the bag, those troubled feelings are tucked away; at least until they arise again. By which time you are getting used to them and they become ever easier to ignore – though perhaps they continue to nag away, just a bit, just sometimes.

Not every researcher admits to having these feelings, but some when asked will do so, no matter how much of a veteran they might be. Some people have a bad case of these phantom jitters, while others just get an occasional twinge. It might well be compared to stage fright. But despite its relatively common occurrence interview shyness (or even aversion) is rarely discussed and never written about in the how to do it guides.

As with many such nervous feelings, once mutually acknowledged and talked about openly we find we can laugh at ourselves and once we have finished chuckling maybe try to fathom the deeper meanings and causes of the matter. In unusual cases interview shyness grows into a real handicap and obstacle to working as a researcher. I have encountered this only once in a long career and another incidence was reported to me by a colleague. One of my students had to withdraw from her PhD because of her inability to conduct research beyond the library and her desk. I give this example not to scare you but to assert the reality of these feelings, which in almost all instances are overcome without too much difficulty.

In my view the possibility of experiencing interview shyness and the strange reluctance it breeds should be acknowledged at the outset, so that it can be anticipated and the novice is ready and prepared. In that spirit I hope you will ask yourself a few questions about how it might feel? What might cause it? What sort of similar experiences are familiar to you? What do you do then? In other words, do a bit of group research right now by having a conversation about this little gremlin. The thing about gremlins is that they are more readily pushed aside when they are nudged out of the shadows and into the light of day.