Aglet

Triage Themes in Mixed User Research

Synthesis can hide uncertainty when notes from different methods are blended too early. Triage the raw observations first, then mark which patterns recur and which belong to one context. Preserve the language and source behind each theme so a tidy label does not outrun the evidence.

Establish what is happening

  1. Inventory source material

    List sessions, observations, survey responses, support records, and prototype tests with dates and context. Separate direct observations from interpretations. Mark missing segments and uneven source quality before grouping notes into a theme.

  2. Find meaningful similarity

    Cluster observations by user outcome, behavior, barrier, or context rather than shared words alone. Record the evidence behind each proposed theme and note outliers. Keep a theme narrow enough that a reader can tell what it excludes.

  3. Bound the synthesis

    State which decisions the current themes can inform and which require more research. Flag themes supported by one method or one segment. Record the counterexample that keeps the interpretation honest.

What to carry forward

The triage output is a source-linked theme set with boundaries, outliers, evidence quality, and open questions. Stop when every theme can be traced to observations. Keep a label provisional when it describes a team interpretation rather than a recurring user outcome.

Technical background: IDEO design thinking guidance.

Keep the decision with the work.

Use a Work Item in Aglet to record the problem, the evidence you have, and the next decision. Add an owner and priority, then keep updates in the discussion so the next person can follow the reasoning.

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