Final Project
Phase 01&02 Research
The topic I chose here is Procrastination. Based on the brainstorming we did in class, I chose one topic that happened to me and affected me a lot.
Secondary Research
In this section, I would like to learn more about why procrastination happens to people.
Insights:
Procrastination is too complicated to determine, but generally, it can be divided into two parts: Lack of execution and mental barriers.
As a product, I need to learn more about how people use the current solutions and the pain points.
Modifications (After phase 02):
I found that procrastination is a too big problem for me. So I would like to switch my topic to ‘distraction‘. ( A breakdown part and a cause of procrastination).
To make it more inclusive, the mess map shows the relationships between problems, stakeholders, and phenomena. A good example is here: https://kumu.io/krueg438/cc-conflict-detailed-map#climate-change-conflict-detailed-flow-map.
Secondary Research
Phase 03 Talk with stakeholders
Observative Research
I observed some diaries of procrastinators on the Internet
https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1Ai4y1D7Na
And I record my own daily life as a procrastinator and try to observe myself.
10.50 am: wake up
10.50 -11.30 am: respond to some messages & watch videos
11.30 am: leave the bed
11.30-12.00 pm: cook my lunch
12.00 - 1.30 pm: keep watching the video but start to work
1.30 pm: oh no I need to shut the video down
1.30 - 2.30 pm: do some work
2.30 pm: great, done pretty much
2.30 pm -3.15 pm: play game
3.15 pm: no i need to go back work
3.15 - 4.00 pm: keep playing but also on work
4.00 pm: no I need to focus
4.00 -5.30 pm: work
5.30 pm: time to cook dinner
5.30-6.30 pm: finish cooking
6.30 - 7.30 pm: game time after dinner
7.30 - 8.30 pm: meetings
8.30 - 9.30 pm: video call
9.30 pm: what a day! so tired!
9.30 -10.00 pm: take a shower
10.00 - 10.30 pm: work
10.30 pm: OMG so tired.
10.30 -11.30 pm: lie on the bed and watch TV
11.30 pm: I still have work today!
11.30 -12.30 am: work, but tired.
12.30 am: persist bro, persist!
12.30-1.30 am: sit in the chair, playing iPad.
1.30 am: Go to bed
Interview
Then I cast some interviews on some people around me.
YE, 25, Student at NYU
Why procrastination: Lack of execution and easy to be distracted. “I started doing my homework, but finally found myself watching funny videos on Tiktok.”
How do you solve it: I ask my friend to supervise me, I have to send her my daily routine to her, and the progress I made.
Why you choose this method: I will feel ashamed if I do nothing, that will push me to finish my tasks.
Xu, 45, Librarian
Why procrastination: I feel tired after work, so I play games and watch TV series to relax. I just don’t want to finish the task at that moment.
How do you solve it: I just try to make housework less tiring, like doing it when listening to my favorite podcast at the same time.
Why you choose this method: I know I need to finish the work, and anybody don’t like it. So I need a more comfortable way to do it, so that shifting from my comfort zone, and watching TV will not be that painful.
Stakeholders map
Phase 04 Research Hypothesis
From my own life and other addict’s life, I learned that:…
We can use other methods to get amusement as replacements for information feed. That method will be less likely to get us addicted (like podcasts) because that method consumes less attention.
We are hooked on something hard to stop, like games, videos, and TV. That will stop us from shifting from ‘play’ to ‘work.’. So ending the infinite feed quickly and smoothly is the key to it.
We need information flow sometimes, it can benefit us. But opening it will distract our attention.
So the next step is to validate if these two insights are correct and dig deeper into the solution.
So we make research hypotheses
A good research hypothesis has three main features:
Specificity: A hypothesis should clearly define what variables you’re studying and what you expect an outcome to be, without ambiguity in its wording
Relevance: A research hypothesis should have significance for your research project by addressing a potential opportunity for improvement
Testability: Your research hypothesis must be able to be tested in some way such as empirical observation or data collection
Hypothesis 01: Breaking the infinite feed
1. Pose a hypothesis
If we substitute infinite information flow with limited ones for procrastinators, they will find it easier to decrease their time spent on information Feed.
2. Identify variables and choose your research method
My variable can be quantitive, so it can be the time people spend on their information flows.
3. Carry out my study- study plan.
I will have two groups of people tested to see how the two groups behave differently.
Both groups are told to do their routine work for 3 hours. The work should be what they think is hard, and easy to be distracted.
Control Group: Free to use all Apps (including information flow ones).
Research Group: Free to use all Apps (including information flow ones). But they will be notified once they spend 20 consecutive minutes in their information flow.
I will record the time they spent in information flows.
Hypothesis 02: Replacing feeds with other type of information
1. Pose a hypothesis
If we substitute video & image flow with another type of information, it will help users decrease their usage of the information feed.
2. Identify variables and choose your research method
My variable can be quantitive, so it can be the time people spend on their information flows.
3. Carry out my study- study plan.
I will have two groups of people tested to see how the two groups behave differently.
Both groups are told to do their routine work for 3 hours. The work should be what they think is hard, and easy to be distracted.
Control Group: Free to use all Apps (including information flow ones).
Research Group 01: Free to use all Apps (including video-based information flow ones). But their information flows will be turned into a list of abstracts. Then users should click on the video before the video starts to play.
Research Group 02: Free to use all Apps (including video-based information flow ones). But their information flows will be turned into podcasts.
Research Group 03: Free to use all Apps (including video-based information flow ones). But their information flows will be turned into text and images.
I will record the time they spent in information flows.
Hypothesis insights 01:
I made a Zoom call with my friends. They are told to follow their regular routines.
I did the testing on 3 friends of mine. The process recording is listed as followed:
Distraction, Absorption are two kinds of common harm of 'information feed' or 'extra information provided'.
Distraction means people presume they are working.
Absorption means people presume they are having free time, or they have not gotten into the working mode
Distraction in work mode:
Cut down the endless 'Off-topic' content flow is useful.
Identifying the 'jump-out' is pretty tricky.
People are relatively more willing to get back
Absorption out of work mode:
The major distraction often happens before you get into the 'work mode'
Notifying can help people realize the task and get out easier.
The infinite feeds or a long video are hard for people to end it.
