Overview
Experience Sampling is a generative market research method that captures user behavior in real-time within natural, everyday contexts. In GLIDR, researchers can run targeted studies on specific behaviors, collect evidence from sampled user cohorts over time, and analyze findings to assess project impact.
Key Purpose
The method addresses fundamental business questions: "Who is our customer?" "What are their pains?" "What are the jobs to be done?" and "How do we find them?"
Core Methodology
This approach asks participants to report on their experiences, thoughts, and behaviors at designated moments in their natural settings—sometimes called the "daily diary method." As the guide emphasizes, "The key to experience sampling is asking the right questions" with careful phrasing since questions repeat throughout the study.
Time & Resources
- Data collection: Aim for at least 100 data points
- Participant incentives: $5–$50 or equivalent
- Analysis: Initial sessions range from 2 hours to a full day
- Recruiting: Can span one day to multiple days depending on target specificity
Critical Steps
Preparation includes:
- Crafting precise questions requiring under one minute to answer
- Selecting contact medium (SMS, email, app, etc.)
- Planning alert frequency to avoid participant fatigue
- Recruiting screened participants matching target criteria
Analysis involves:
- Categorizing responses and identifying themes
- Team-based blind classification for consistency
- Creating frequency distributions to highlight pain points and opportunities
Key Bias Warnings
Avoid prediction bias by asking about recent behavior rather than opinions. Prevent confirmation bias through neutral phrasing without leading examples.
Adapted from The Real Startup Book, edited by Tristan Kromer and published by Kromatic, under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.