Karl Pearson, 1857-1936, was a professor of applied mathematics and mechanics. He was one of the major figures in statistics, especially medical statistics. Depressingly, he was also a eugenicist and racist – two things that I regret that I overlookedContinue reading… It is OK to stop reading a book (Book review: The Grammar of Science by Karl Pearson)
Blog
Some thoughts on surveys: Boye and Company member conference call
It was a pleasure to re-connect with Janus Boye after a gap of more than a decade. I last worked with Boye and Company in 2011 when I attended the JBoye conference in Aarhus Denmark to give talks on surveysContinue reading… Some thoughts on surveys: Boye and Company member conference call
A research incentive for a colleague
The other day, Alex Slowman asked a question about how to recompense colleagues for their time when they help us in user research activities, but it’s not appropriate to pay a financial incentive. I’ve found that a thank-you to theContinue reading… A research incentive for a colleague
Thinking about surveys of patients with Loyal
How do we ask people about their experiences of healthcare? That was the theme of a survey studio that I did for Loyal earlier this year. Loyal is a healthcare business in the USA, and I worked with Amira PettusContinue reading… Thinking about surveys of patients with Loyal
How to share research in design systems
This post is co-authored by Amy Hupe, Ignacia Orellana, and Caroline Jarrett. “Use this because we said so” is not a convincing strategy for building trust with designers and developers who want to, need to, or are told to, useContinue reading… How to share research in design systems
Use your plain language skills to improve your survey
Plain language skills are vital for surveys. If people can easily understand your questions, then that will help them to give accurate answers. And plain language specialists are constantly thinking about their audience and its needs – which is vitalContinue reading… Use your plain language skills to improve your survey
Get more insight from smaller surveys by patchworking
There’s a dilemma in the world of surveys: we want to find out lots of things by asking people questions, but they do not want to answer Big Honkin’ Surveys any more. Patchwork is the art of putting small piecesContinue reading… Get more insight from smaller surveys by patchworking
Surveys that work: a 10hr workshop for Rosenfeld Media
My publisher Rosenfeld Media invited me to join the Rosenfeld Media online workshops program to teach an intensive 10hr dive into surveys. It was a pleasure to work with participants from the United States, Canada and Germany. In sessions onContinue reading… Surveys that work: a 10hr workshop for Rosenfeld Media
Surveys that work for the Harvard User Research Community
I was delighted to begin this year’s presentations by talking about my book, Surveys That Work, as part of the Brown Bag Book Club series organised by the User Research Center at Harvard University An encouragingly large group of HarvardContinue reading… Surveys that work for the Harvard User Research Community
All projects (and services) start in the middle
I’m a big fan of the user-centred agile approach to service delivery that is gradually being adopted by most government departments in the UK, and many other organisations too. I mean – let’s turn those words around. Who would wantContinue reading… All projects (and services) start in the middle