User Experience Research


  • Conducted 500+ qualitative interviews
  • Observed behaviors of 250+ users
  • Piloted 5 studies
  • Designed, wrote, disseminated, and analyzed 4 surveys studies
  • Edited and formatted a website about how to conduct user studies
  • Have worked with 8 organizations on 20+ user research projects
  • All metrics are as of July 2015

Overall Metrics


Exploratorium

Research & Evaluation Assistant

March 2014 - Present (On-Call)

Interviewed 80+ Visitors. Observed 30+ Visitors. Piloted 4 Research Studies. Cleaned and Organized Data. Coded 10+ Interviews.*

Qualitative Open-Ended Interviews. Timing and Tracking Observations. Piloted New Studies. Tested New Tracking Technology.

Assisted with piloting and executing multiple research studies, including one focused on children. Used timing and tracking, open-ended interviewing with probes, behavioral observations, and written follow-up surveys. Collected data both manually and digitally. Used FileMaker Pro on an iPad.

*As of December 2014.


Oakland Museum of California

Evaluation Associate

 

May 2013 - Present (On-Call)

Interviewed 100+ Visitors. Observed 30+ Visitors. Collected 250+ Surveys from Visitors.

Qualitative Open-Ended Interviews. Survey Collection. Prototyping Observations.

Collected data for front-end, formative, and summative evaluation studies using in-person interviews, written surveys, personal meaning maps, timing and tracking observations, and other instruments. Quickly learned collection methods. Worked with in-house staff and consultants. Used manual and digital collection methods. 

*As of December 2014.


Monterey Bay Aquarium

Evaluation Assistant

 

July - October 2014

Interviewed 50 Members. Recruited from Post-Visit Cold Calls.

Qualitative Phone Surveys. Cold-Call Recruitment. Recorded Conversations.

Worked with Jessica Brainard & Associates to complete cold-call phone interviews with guests after their museum visit. Used recording equipment and uploaded files remotely using DropBox.


Visitor Studies Services

Web Content and Presentation Editor

January - March 2014

Edited Copy and Formatted 40+ Pages in Wordpress. Advised on Content Layout.

Edited and organized web content and structure of an online Visitor Studies Manual using Blogger using basic HTML. Provided feedback on content flow and page hierarchy.


Asian Art Museum

Visitor Studies Researcher

July - August 2013

Tracked and Interviewed 20 Visitors.

Timing and Tracking on Whole-Visit Observations. Qualitative Interviews. On-site Recruitment.

With Audience Viewpoints, collected evaluation data by observing the visitor's movements and behaviors during their entire museum visit (ranged from 5 minutes to 4 hours per group).  Recruited participants on-site. Conducted post-observation interviews. Used FileMaker Pro on an iPad to collect data.


California Academy of Sciences

Visitor Studies Researcher

June 2013

Tracked 160+ Visitor.

Anonymous Timing and Tracking Observations.

Collected quantitative evaluation data by anonymously observing the visitor behaviors of over 160 individuals through a new exhibit space. Quickly learned and used new iPad application TimeNTrack.


Empire Valuation Consultants

Research Intern

June - August 2010, December 2009, July - August 2008, June - August 2006

Researched Trends. Wrote Industry Forecasts.

Researched and wrote industry forecasting reports for business valuations. Researched and compiled raw data on intangible assets of publicly traded companies for a study. Analyzed bond prices for client reports.


 

Testimonials

It's been a pleasure having Katherine's keen interest and quick learning style contributing to the evaluation team here at OMCA over the past year and a half. Her flexibility, focus, and attention to detail have made her a valuable member of the team. While developing the required evaluation skills, Katherine also seeks opportunities for leadership that are likely to make her an active contributor to the field.
- Mary, Evaluator at the Oakland Museum of California

Katherine has served as a research assistant on several museum exhibition evaluations that I've managed over the years—from recording quantitative timing and tracking observations to conducting in-depth qualitative interviews. With her strong analytical skills, intellectual breadth, and innate curiosity about the world, Katherine is a natural evaluator. She's a quick study and is equally quick to ask clarifying questions to ensure the utmost methodological integrity of her data.
- Jessica, Interpretive Planner & Evaluator

Katherine assisted me at the Exploratorium in piloting the data collection protocol for one of our research projects. She enthusiastically took on a variety of tasks, from coding scheme development to tracking and timing museum visitors, while asking lots of good questions to ensure she met the many, very specific requirements of the protocol. She also offered insightful suggestions for how to improve the protocol and how to clearly communicate expectations to other data collectors. Thank you, Katherine!
- Lisa, Research Associate at the Exploratorium