Understanding Context of Use Methods in UX Research

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader

User experience (UX) research aims to create products that fit users’ needs and environments. One key to achieving this is understanding the context of use—the conditions and situations in which users interact with a product. Without this insight, designs risk missing the mark, leading to frustration or abandonment. This post explores the main methods UX researchers use to uncover context of use, why they matter, and how they shape better user experiences.

Researcher observing user interaction in natural environment

What Context of Use Means in UX Research

Context of use refers to the physical, social, and technical environment where a product is used. It includes:

• The user’s goals and tasks

• The device or platform involved

• Environmental factors like lighting, noise, or location

• Social interactions or interruptions during use

  
  

Understanding these factors helps designers create solutions that fit real-world scenarios, not just ideal conditions. For example, a navigation app used while driving needs a different interface than one used at home.

Common Methods to Capture Context of Use

UX researchers rely on several methods to gather detailed context information. Each method offers unique insights and suits different stages of product development.

Field Studies

Field studies involve observing users in their natural environment. Researchers visit homes, workplaces, or public spaces to watch how people interact with products or perform tasks.

• Benefits: Captures real behavior, reveals environmental influences, uncovers unexpected challenges

• Example: Observing how delivery drivers use a routing app during their shifts to identify usability issues caused by weather or traffic

  
  

Field studies require careful planning and respect for privacy but provide rich, authentic data.

Contextual Inquiry

This method combines observation with interviews. Researchers watch users perform tasks and ask questions to understand their motivations and challenges.

• Benefits: Gathers detailed explanations alongside behavior, uncovers user goals and pain points

• Example: A researcher shadowing a nurse using a patient management system, asking about workflow interruptions or device preferences

  
  

Contextual inquiry helps connect actions with user intentions, making it easier to design solutions that fit workflows.

Diary Studies

Diary studies ask users to record their experiences over time, often through notes, photos, or app entries.

• Benefits: Captures long-term usage patterns, reveals changes in context, gathers user reflections

• Example: Participants logging their use of a fitness tracker throughout a week, noting when and where they use it

  
  

This method suits products with varied or infrequent use, providing insights that short observations might miss.

User diary entries capturing daily product interactions

Surveys and Interviews Focused on Context

While surveys and interviews are common, tailoring questions to context of use uncovers specific details about environments and conditions.

• Benefits: Efficient for gathering broad context data, useful for validating findings from other methods

• Example: Asking users about their typical environment when using a language learning app, such as quiet rooms or noisy public transport

  
  

Combining these with other methods strengthens understanding of context.

Why Context of Use Matters for UX Design

Ignoring context can lead to designs that fail in real life. For example, a mobile app with small buttons might work well in a lab but frustrate users outdoors in bright sunlight or while walking. Context-aware design improves:

• Usability: Interfaces adapt to lighting, noise, or device constraints

• Accessibility: Designs consider physical or cognitive limitations in specific environments

• User satisfaction: Products feel intuitive and reliable in everyday situations

  
  

By integrating context of use methods early, teams reduce costly redesigns and build products that truly serve users.

Practical Tips for Applying Context of Use Methods

• Start with field studies or contextual inquiry to gather rich, qualitative data.

• Use diary studies to track long-term or varied usage patterns.

• Combine methods to cross-check findings and get a fuller picture.

• Respect user privacy and obtain consent, especially in natural settings.

• Document environmental factors carefully, such as noise levels or lighting conditions.

• Share context insights with designers and developers to guide decisions.

  
  

Final Thoughts on Context of Use in UX Research

Understanding context of use is essential for creating user experiences that work in the real world. By using methods like field studies, contextual inquiry, and diary studies, researchers uncover the environments and situations that shape user behavior. This knowledge leads to designs that fit users’ lives, not just their screens.