The best way to understand how your users behave and live is to actually visit them in their homes or workplaces. Contextual Inquiries can seem overwhelming because of the amount of time and cost associated, but the principles are quite simple–it’s being a humble observer in a user’s personal space. Course participants will learn all about contextual research and how to apply it effectively to their research at any budget or time constraint. Participants will learn how to create ethnographic research plans that are aimed at observing actual users in their environments. Tips will be given for structuring visits to allow for useful discussion and observations. Attendees will learn how to make use of diaries and other interceptive methods to augment (or even replace) the visits.