Researching Digital Technology Users: Qualitative research on user experiences (Online)
Key information
- Start date:
- 18 February 2025
- Attendance dates:
18 February 2025
- Time commitment:
- 1 day
- Venue:
- Distance learning
- Contact details:
- Carrie Lee
- Email: daycourses@surrey.ac.uk
- Prof Ranjana Das
- Professor, Department of Sociology
- Email: r.das@surrey.ac.uk
Overview
This course offers training to practitioners who wish to understand and research users of digital platforms, media and a variety of digital services. It consists of 3 key components – 1) insights from cutting-edge research – and an overview of key research methods – for researching users, including traditional and more creative approaches 2) collecting and analyzing data, ethically, from users that captures the richness and nuance of user experience 3) case-studies on digital media and technology use – including cases on social media platform use, technology and families and users’ literacies with technology. The training will focus on qualitative methods of collecting data on user experience, including ethical considerations; tailoring approaches to keep pace with developments in technology; anticipating key problems and challenges; and protecting users’ best interests in doing research. The case studies will focus on a range of topics and platforms in relation to use and user experience of technologies.
The course is designed for people across diverse sectors (not solely media or digital sectors) – and anyone who wishes to better understand users of platforms and digital spaces, and who wishes to develop tools to work with users, and collect and analyze meaningful user experience data.
The course leader – Professor Ranjana Das – is an experienced audience and user researcher with over 30 journal papers, 4 books and various projects on users and audiences in her portfolio. Professors Das will draw on her own research with users and audiences spanning 15 years, as well as user studies more broadly within the social sciences, to provide this training.
Taught on campus in a small group setting, the course leaders will be happy to address specific queries raised by course participants either during the sessions or in the breaks.
Please note: this course does not cover the use of computer software programmes to assist qualitative data analysis. See events run by the CAQDAS networking project at the University of Surrey for training on specific CAQDAS packages.
Learning outcomes
- To understand top insights from current research on user experiences of digital technologies and platforms
- Designing qualitative research with users
- Seeking out less heard from users, non-users and diversities of use
- To be able to reflect on case studies of digital user research
- To understand ethics of researching digital media users
- To gain introductory understandings of analysing data on user experiences
Course content
- user experiences of digital technologies and platforms
- qualitative research with users
- users, non-users and diversities of use
- case studies of digital user research
- ethics of researching digital media users
- analysing data on user experiences
- Practical exercises in pairs and small groups
- Final reflections, trouble shooting
Learning and teaching methods
Presentations, discussions, guided exercises, independent group exercises
Assessment
None
Course leader
![Ranjana Das profile image](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2020-08/ranjana-das.jpg?itok=yXMUE1cn)
Professor Ranjana Das
Professor
Professor Ranjana Das is an experienced audience and user researcher with over 30 journal papers, 4 books and various projects on users and audiences in her portfolio. Her work with media and technology users has been funded by The British Academy, the Wellcome Trust, the Leverhulme Trust, amongst others.
Entry requirements
Some experience of working with digital technology and/or users would be useful but not mandatory
Fees and funding
Price per person:
£98
UGPN student discount£130
Students (all non-UGPN)£138
UGPN staff discount£155
Education and charitable sector applicants£220
Government and commercial sector applicantsTerms and conditions
When you accept an offer of a place at the University of Surrey, you are agreeing to comply with our policies and regulations and our terms and conditions. You are also confirming you have read and understood the University's prospective student privacy notice.
Further details of our terms and conditions will follow.
Disclaimer
This online prospectus has been prepared and published in advance of the commencement of the course. The University of Surrey has used its reasonable efforts to ensure that the information is accurate at the time of publishing, but changes (for example to course content or additional costs) may occur given the interval between publishing and commencement of the course. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply for a course with us. Read the full disclaimer.
Course location and contact details
Campus location
Stag HillStag Hill is the University's main campus and where the majority of our courses are taught.
- Email: daycourses@surrey.ac.uk
University of Surrey
Guildford
Surrey GU2 7XH