Appendix I: Primary Research Guide

Part 1

Primary research will greatly aid our team in creating a final product for the key user to use. Our primary research will include interviews with the key user, in-person observations, and textual analysis of related products.

The key user is a stroke survivor with partial paralysis in his left arm. Through interviews and observation, we intend to learn more about his cooking style. This may aid us in creating a product that could fix any issues that we notice during observations. Interviews will also provide guidance on how he completes other day-to-day activities and which other products assist him. Textual analysis of previous solutions or products may help in creating a final prototype. We will research the different elements of products that the key user could find useful, with clarification from him.

The interviews will be recorded with the consent of the key user. We also plan to video or take pictures of any observations.

There may be some issues with biases that occur throughout the course of this design challenge. All of us are limited in our knowledge of our key user’s abilities. To counter this we plan to ask the key user questions throughout the design process to clarify any gaps in our knowledge. We also need to not make any assumptions and be open-minded to his critiques.

To prepare for this research we are uncertain how observations may occur due to COVID. If not possible to do them in person we are also able to use zoom.

Part 2

Stakeholder Interview

Shirley Ryan Ability Lab (SRAL)

Courtney Celian, occupational therapist for Gregory (primary user)

Online

Goal of SRAL: rehabilitation of patients across various areas, including those affected by the repercussions of stroke

SRAL’s five target areas for stroke recovery and rehabilitation:

1. Brain healing lab

2. Legs and walking lab

3. Arms and hands lab

4. Think and speak lab

5. Strength and endurance lab

Interview Introduction

Introduce ourselves (Jane, Liv, Chip, and Gabby)

Northwestern students currently enrolled in a Design, Thinking, and Communication course

Reiterate our understanding of the project/design proposition:

Propose a device for individuals with symptoms of stroke (our user partner Gregory specifically) that easily allows

accurate measurement of liquid when filling different sized cooking basins and cups

Provides a safe and assistive way for stroke survivors to return to cooking who struggle with proprioception

Potential Interview Questions

1. What are the logistics and process of rehabilitation of your patients here (specific emphasis on stroke patients)?

2. What is your day like on a day to day basis?

a. Work with patients? Oversee? Plan?

3. What rehabilitation does SRAL specialize in?

4. How many people recovering from stroke are currently lodged within SRAL?

a. What are the main benefits of these people being lodged here?

b. What are the main focuses/points of recovery for people lodged within SRAL?

5. What strategies seem to work best when helping patients recover from the effects of stroke?

a. Is it very variable from person to person?

6. Is there a common thread between all patients recovering from stroke?

a. Do they all prefer a certain type of rehabilitation or lab?

b. Are there any devices used in the lab that have a high success rate or high praise from recovering patients?

7. Do you run into the problem of pouring liquids within SRAL with other patients recovering from stroke?

a. Have you taken steps to address this? If so, what?

b. How do patients here approach this issue currently?

c. Has anyone here used a MaxiAid? What did they like/dislike about it?

Additional Potential Questions:

1. If the problem involves improving an existing product or system: What do you like about the current product/system and why?

2. What don’t you like about it and why?

Questions about users and other stakeholders:

1. Who will be the end users of this design?

2. Can you give us the names of users and their contact information so we can interview them later in the project?

3. What other individuals or groups will interact with or have an interest in this design? For example, does someone have to clean, manufacture, or sell it?

Questions about requirements, features, constraints, and other designs:

1. What requirements do you have for the design?

2. Why are they important to you?

3. Are there any specific features you think the design should have?

4. Why are those features important to you?

5. Are there any constraints on the design that we must take into account?

6. Are there designs currently on the market that we should look at?

7. Have previous designers worked on this problem for you?

Questions about research:

1. Can you suggest experts or other people we should talk to regarding the project?

2. Can you suggest relevant books, articles, and websites?

Questions about the follow-up:

1. How often would you like to receive email progress updates?

Wrapping up the interview:

End on a positive note by thanking the project partners and expressing enthusiasm about the project.

Part 3

Primary User: Gregory

Proxy Users: Susannah, Courtney and other AbilityLab employees, other stroke patients

Observation method: Zoom call with Gregory and his wife Susannah, observation of his cooking

Introduction:

Hello, we are the students that form Team 3 of DTC Section 7. Our names are Liv, Chip, Jane, and Gabrielle. As you know, we are students at Northwestern working with our DTC class to design a tool for you to assist you with measuring liquids in your cooking. We were wondering if we could observe your cooking process so that we might be able to see where the problems are specifically occurring with the measuring and pouring. Also, do we have your permission to record this meeting for our research? Thank you for your cooperation!

Task Breakdown:

Gregory selects a recipe to cook

Gregory gathers ingredients and utensils

Gregory begins following the recipe

Gregory encounters difficulty measuring a substance which is when he will need Susannah to help him; this

is the step we must pay careful attention to as this is the problem step

Gregory finishes the recipe

Things to Note:

Hand placement and steadiness, does the way he pours the substance look normal?

Gregory’s emotional reaction--is he frustrated?

How far off is his measurement?

What type of food is he cooking?

How much is he measuring?

AEIOU Framework: Activities, Environment, Interactions, Objects, and Users

Activities:

1. How does Gregory perform the other steps of cooking with only one hand?

2. How does the loss of proprioception not affect the rest of the cooking process?

Pay close attention to each step of the cooking process, even the setup and the cleanup.

Environment:

1. What does the kitchen look like?

2. Is it organized?

3. Are things kept in a certain place for easy access for Gregory?

Interactions:

1. How does Gregory interact with his wife Susannah?

2. Does his frustration with his disability ever get reflected onto her?

3. Is she patient with him?

Objects:

1. What other assistive technology is in the home?

2. Is any of it used in the cooking process?

Users:

1. Does Gregory still enjoy cooking even though it has become difficult for him at times?

2. Does cooking still come naturally to him?