Research pilot participant guidelines
We run a pilot/test session before each study so we can rehearse the process of logging into Perigean’s Zoom, work through kinks, and make sure we have allocated an appropriate amount of time for the sessions.
Designers and researchers typically will ask a developer or someone else on their team to act as a “pilot participant” as a stand-in for one of our VA.gov users.
So you've been asked to participate in a research pilot. What's next?
What to expect
You should receive an invitation for a pilot session from either Perigean or the designer/researcher
The designer/researcher on your team will give you a series of tasks to complete or ask you to answer questions about "your experience" with the VA.gov site.
You don't need to create a new "character" or "persona" or “pretend to be a veteran,” however:
Answer the questions truthfully and try to imagine yourself through the lens of the study participants
Helpful Tips
Familiarize yourself with the research plan for the study
Understand the user persona or profile for the study
Ask questions during the pilot session
Give the moderator feedback
If you have difficulty understanding a question, let the moderator know
Check out the Veteran personas
FAQ
I'm a developer and look at websites/UX differently than most visitors. Why should I participate?
Anyone can be a pilot participant! It helps the team gain empathy for our users and allows you to view the product through a different lens and see the value in what we're building. It also helps the moderator figure out how to run the study efficiently.
What if I'm "too close" to the work?
Try to separate yourself from the role you played in building the tool/site. Imagine that you are using it just as the actual participants do.
Thanks for participating and have fun!
Help and feedback
Get help from the Platform Support Team in Slack.
Submit a feature idea to the Platform.