Summary
Every researcher wants to get the most out of a testing session but that’s easier said than done. It requires expert navigation of the nuances of different personalities, distinct power dynamics, and the varied abilities of each participant. Dovetail’s Head of Design and Research, Lucy Denton sits down with Mila Kuznetsova, Senior Director of User Research and Product at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt to get a better insight into her experiments with methodologies and techniques as she’s navigated testing with a distinct participant group—children. In this session, we’ll hear from Mila about staying nimble, adjusting her approach to cater to the individual, and how we could bring the same level of understanding and grace to testing with adults. This session isn’t to be missed!
Key Insights
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Children require tailored research methods because they are not just smaller adults.
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Recruitment for child research involves securing adult consent and partnerships with schools or community groups.
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Informed consent and ethical sensitivity are critical due to children's vulnerability and power dynamics.
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Young children benefit from tactile, engaging tools like touchscreens and craft supplies during sessions.
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Building comfort through warm-up conversations and clear session previews helps improve data quality with kids.
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Middle schoolers handle longer sessions and complex tasks but may become self-critical or shy, requiring gentle encouragement.
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One-on-one sessions with middle schoolers yield richer insights than group settings, which can become chaotic.
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Parental presence can bias data; involving parents in separate, meaningful activities helps mitigate interference.
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Flexibility in research protocols is essential to accommodate varied abilities and responses, especially in children.
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Lessons from child research improve adult studies, such as providing multiple response options and addressing power dynamics.
Notable Quotes
"Kids are not little adults. You can’t just simplify an adult product and call it for kids."
"Recruiting kids means recruiting adults who act as proxies, so building relationships with schools and parents is key."
"Informed consent means making sure kids and guardians understand what will happen, sometimes involving background checks."
"Give children a preview of the session so they know what to expect next — it reduces anxiety."
"Young kids have different ability levels, so check comprehension and adapt on the spot."
"Middle schoolers are super curious and will ask detailed questions about how their data is used."
"One-on-one sessions with middle schoolers work better than group interviews, which can go off the rails."
"Parents wanting to interpret for children can bias sessions, so give them their own tasks to keep them engaged."
"I have a growth mindset in research — it’s okay to adapt protocols as long as you document changes."
"Power dynamics between researcher and participant exist with adults, too, so always be mindful and simplify language."
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