# Usability reviews and research

**URL:** https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/c/lounge/usability-review-research/15.md

[Latest](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/latest.md) · [Categories](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/categories.md)

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## [About 'Usability reviews and research'](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/about-usability-reviews-and-research/94)

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**Author:** [@jan](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/jan)\
**Replies:** 0\
**Last updated:** [April 20, 2017, 7:36pm UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/about-usability-reviews-and-research/94 "2017-04-20T19:36:15Z")

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Usability testing, user research, expert reviews and related tools. If you are doing usability tests or user research for an open source project and need any help or reviewers, or have questions, please come in!

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## [Finding participants for usability tests](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/finding-participants-for-usability-tests/4522)

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**Author:** [@Pintoch](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/Pintoch)\
**Replies:** 6\
**Last updated:** [September 9, 2026, 7:29pm UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/finding-participants-for-usability-tests/4522 "2026-09-09T19:29:53Z")

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Hello :slight\_smile: I’m a FOSS developer and I just read Don’t make me think!. I’m really excited about doing usability tests for the FOSS projects I work on (at the moment, primarily Forgejo). I’m also excited to take…

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## [Methods to use in small projects](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/methods-to-use-in-small-projects/4458)

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**Author:** [@jdittrich](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/jdittrich)\
**Replies:** 3\
**Last updated:** [August 12, 2026, 6:19am UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/methods-to-use-in-small-projects/4458 "2026-08-12T06:19:37Z")

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I occasionally coach small teams who work on open source software. They do have limited budget and often no dedicated designer role. I collected some advice I commonly give them: Improving text (usually easy to do with…

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## [PenPot plug-In testers needed](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/penpot-plug-in-testers-needed/4219)

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**Author:** [@SvenPu](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/SvenPu)\
**Replies:** 0\
**Last updated:** [May 16, 2025, 5:02pm UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/penpot-plug-in-testers-needed/4219 "2025-05-16T17:02:52Z")

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The MockupMirror plug-in for PenPot allows designers to test their prototypes on a real smartphone. The author of the plug-in and the associated companion app for Android smartphones would like to publish his app in the …

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## [Survey: Understanding on-boarding Challenges for Open Source Design Contributors](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/survey-understanding-on-boarding-challenges-for-open-source-design-contributors/4147)

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**Author:** [@iamkingsleey](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/iamkingsleey)\
**Replies:** 0\
**Last updated:** [February 26, 2025, 8:49pm UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/survey-understanding-on-boarding-challenges-for-open-source-design-contributors/4147 "2025-02-26T20:49:20Z")

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Hello Everyone, :wave: I am exploring the challenges designers face when contributing to open-source projects. Whether you’re an active contributor or just getting started, your insights will help improve the onboarding…

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## [Participants Needed to Enhance OSS Usability and Design](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/participants-needed-to-enhance-oss-usability-and-design/4028)

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**Author:** [@Rozhan\_h](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/Rozhan_h)\
**Replies:** 9\
**Last updated:** [December 9, 2024, 4:16pm UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/participants-needed-to-enhance-oss-usability-and-design/4028 "2024-12-09T16:16:37Z")

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:sparkles: Hello Open Source Design Community! Have you contributed to open-source software projects as a designer or a developer during the past year? We are inviting you to take part in an interview study conducted by…

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## [Automated (recorded) User Tests?](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/automated-recorded-user-tests/3908)

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**Author:** [@fnetX](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/fnetX)\
**Replies:** 14\
**Last updated:** [October 14, 2024, 12:04pm UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/automated-recorded-user-tests/3908 "2024-10-14T12:04:38Z")

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Hi, I know there were related discussions in the past, but I couldn’t find a usable outcome. Is there any free/libre software platform for unmoderated user testing? A friend of mine works in a company that does small us…

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## [Open source tools for interviews or surveys](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/open-source-tools-for-interviews-or-surveys/1111)

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**Author:** [@samtuke](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/samtuke)\
**Replies:** 10\
**Last updated:** [July 3, 2024, 7:35pm UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/open-source-tools-for-interviews-or-surveys/1111 "2024-07-03T19:35:45Z")

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## [FYI: GNOME will have two Outreachy interns conducting a series of short user research exercises](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/fyi-gnome-will-have-two-outreachy-interns-conducting-a-series-of-short-user-research-exercises/3853)

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**Author:** [@SvenPu](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/SvenPu)\
**Replies:** 1\
**Last updated:** [May 29, 2024, 7:36am UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/fyi-gnome-will-have-two-outreachy-interns-conducting-a-series-of-short-user-research-exercises/3853 "2024-05-29T07:36:44Z")

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The GNOME organization is happily announcing that they are sponsoring two Outreachy internship projects for the May-August 2024 Outreachy internship round where they will be conducting a series of short user research exe…

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## [Actionable workflows and tools for designers who want to contribute to open source projects](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/actionable-workflows-and-tools-for-designers-who-want-to-contribute-to-open-source-projects/3505)

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**Author:** [@Lydiaofficial](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/Lydiaofficial)\
**Replies:** 5\
**Last updated:** [June 7, 2023, 12:36pm UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/actionable-workflows-and-tools-for-designers-who-want-to-contribute-to-open-source-projects/3505 "2023-06-07T12:36:56Z")

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Hello, I’m an intern with OpenRefine (an open source data cleaning software) and I’m working to improve how designers are onboarded and contribute to open source projects. I would like to know the workflows and tools th…

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## [Making shared notes about FOSDEM 2023 talk](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/making-shared-notes-about-fosdem-2023-talk/3350)

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**Author:** [@ei8fdb](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/ei8fdb)\
**Replies:** 1\
**Last updated:** [February 7, 2023, 1:09pm UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/making-shared-notes-about-fosdem-2023-talk/3350 "2023-02-07T13:09:55Z")

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@Erioldoesdesign made a good suggestion about trying to make collaborative notes this year about our devroom talks, instead of making lots of individual social media posts. If you’re at the devroom, either in person or …

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## [Looking to connect with open source designers for academic research](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/looking-to-connect-with-open-source-designers-for-academic-research/2124)

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**Author:** [@jazlynhellman](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/jazlynhellman)\
**Replies:** 4\
**Last updated:** [November 3, 2022, 9:14am UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/looking-to-connect-with-open-source-designers-for-academic-research/2124 "2022-11-03T09:14:55Z")

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Hello! (I’m new to the forum, so I apologize if this is in the wrong topic) My name is Jazlyn and I’m a Masters student in CS at McGill University. I’m beginning work on my thesis which is about exploring virtual co-desi…

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## [Designer contributing to OSS - Paid diary studies](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/designer-contributing-to-oss-paid-diary-studies/3200)

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**Author:** [@Erioldoesdesign](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/Erioldoesdesign)\
**Replies:** 2\
**Last updated:** [October 26, 2022, 2:26pm UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/designer-contributing-to-oss-paid-diary-studies/3200 "2022-10-26T14:26:59Z")

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Hi there Open Source Design Community :wave: At Simply Secure, we’re researching how designers (of all kinds of disciplines) contribute to or work on free and open source software. The stories and processes of how desi…

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## [Libre book: Beginner’s Guide to User Need Research – use and improve it](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/libre-book-beginner-s-guide-to-user-need-research-use-and-improve-it/134)

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**Author:** [@jdittrich](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/jdittrich)\
**Replies:** 3\
**Last updated:** [August 22, 2022, 7:10pm UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/libre-book-beginner-s-guide-to-user-need-research-use-and-improve-it/134 "2022-08-22T19:10:42Z")

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The Beg­inner’s Guide to Finding User Needs is a little hands-on, libre textbook on doing qualitative research, like interviewing and observation. I created the book because there were few books on the topic in genera…

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## [Participants needed for design workshop to improve OSS-usability!](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/participants-needed-for-design-workshop-to-improve-oss-usability/2913)

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**Author:** [@jazlynhellman](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/jazlynhellman)\
**Replies:** 9\
**Last updated:** [May 18, 2022, 11:29am UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/participants-needed-for-design-workshop-to-improve-oss-usability/2913 "2022-05-18T11:29:28Z")

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Hello, I am a part of a team of researchers from McGill University and Polytechnique Montreal conducting studies to understand and support the usability of free, libre, and open-source software (FLOSS). We are holding a …

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## [CryptPad Forms](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/cryptpad-forms/2609)

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**Author:** [@davidbenque](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/davidbenque)\
**Replies:** 5\
**Last updated:** [July 17, 2021, 7:57am UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/cryptpad-forms/2609 "2021-07-17T07:57:15Z")

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Heads up that we are currently working on a Form application for CryptPad. We aim to provide an alternative to Google Forms that’s end-to-end encrypted and open source like the rest of our apps. The beta is live: Forms …

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## [Cracking the secret to good usability testing](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/cracking-the-secret-to-good-usability-testing/2135)

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**Author:** [@jwf](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/jwf)\
**Replies:** 9\
**Last updated:** [July 13, 2021, 6:23pm UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/cracking-the-secret-to-good-usability-testing/2135 "2021-07-13T18:23:21Z")

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Hi all, I figured this would be the right place to ask this question: what are your best tips and advice on conducting usability tests with end-users? One thing I was wondering about was how to do effective usability te…

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## [Resources/tools to evaluate (automatic or not) the RWD and accessibility of a website](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/resources-tools-to-evaluate-automatic-or-not-the-rwd-and-accessibility-of-a-website/2394)

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**Author:** [@digitigrafo](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/digitigrafo)\
**Replies:** 1\
**Last updated:** [March 2, 2021, 1:00pm UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/resources-tools-to-evaluate-automatic-or-not-the-rwd-and-accessibility-of-a-website/2394 "2021-03-02T13:00:29Z")

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Hi, I would like find tools that help developers and users to understand when their website are: (I started from the easier) out of markup standard out of accessibility standard out of RWD (responsive web de…

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## [📝 Nextcloud Forms released!](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/nextcloud-forms-released/1947)

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**Author:** [@jan](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/jan)\
**Replies:** 1\
**Last updated:** [August 3, 2020, 4:39pm UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/nextcloud-forms-released/1947 "2020-08-03T16:39:19Z")

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We finally released the first version of Nextcloud Forms – a proper open source alternative to Google Forms, SurveyMonkey, Typeform and the like. :slight\_smile: I’m really excited about this especially because of the im…

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## [Surveys for Nextcloud Deck, Forms, and Social](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/surveys-for-nextcloud-deck-forms-and-social/1810)

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**Author:** [@jan](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/jan)\
**Replies:** 3\
**Last updated:** [June 9, 2020, 8:26am UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/surveys-for-nextcloud-deck-forms-and-social/1810 "2020-06-09T08:26:15Z")

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Hey everyone, we are running questionnaires for some Nextcloud apps, namely: Deck: Kanban project management, Trello alternative Forms: Surveys & questionnaires, alternative to Google Forms, Typeform, LimeSurvey etc …

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## [Usability testing using open source tools](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/usability-testing-using-open-source-tools/1110)

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**Author:** [@samtuke](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/samtuke)\
**Replies:** 1\
**Last updated:** [June 9, 2019, 3:47pm UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/usability-testing-using-open-source-tools/1110 "2019-06-09T15:47:41Z")

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## [Examples for interfaces to be evaluated](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/examples-for-interfaces-to-be-evaluated/1096)

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**Author:** [@jdittrich](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/jdittrich)\
**Replies:** 5\
**Last updated:** [June 10, 2019, 5:36pm UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/examples-for-interfaces-to-be-evaluated/1096 "2019-06-10T17:36:21Z")

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I will create a little workshop on rule based UX evaluations and I thought it would be great to have participants work with actual interfaces of open source products. Do you have any examples we could use? Keep in mind …

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## [HTTPS Everywhere redesign](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/https-everywhere-redesign/1014)

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**Author:** [@Renata](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/Renata)\
**Replies:** 4\
**Last updated:** [April 17, 2019, 10:01pm UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/https-everywhere-redesign/1014 "2019-04-17T22:01:21Z")

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Hi everyone! Ura design team is working on redesigning the HTTPS Everywhere extension (https://www.eff.org/https-everywhere). HTTPS Everywhere is an extension created by EFF and the Tor Project which automatically swit…

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## [Quantify factors of contribution-friendliness - who to contact?](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/quantify-factors-of-contribution-friendliness-who-to-contact/846)

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**Author:** [@jibe-b](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/jibe-b)\
**Replies:** 2\
**Last updated:** [March 20, 2019, 1:38am UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/quantify-factors-of-contribution-friendliness-who-to-contact/846 "2019-03-20T01:38:13Z")

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Dear Open Source Design community, I am new here but I already feel at home :slight\_smile: Here is a call I made on twitter but I was told the community is active here: I would like to quantify what makes an opensourc…

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## [Toward Making User Research More Open – Firefox Test Pilot](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/toward-making-user-research-more-open-firefox-test-pilot/250)

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**Author:** [@grahamperrin](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/grahamperrin)\
**Replies:** 4\
**Last updated:** [March 8, 2019, 11:20am UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/toward-making-user-research-more-open-firefox-test-pilot/250 "2019-03-08T11:20:06Z")

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https://medium.com/firefox-test-pilot/toward-making-user-research-more-open-ce8c313f101 … re-published the same day as Toward Making User Research More Open – Firefox User Experience – Medium On the plus side: … In t…

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## [Rule based UX evaluations](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/rule-based-ux-evaluations/895)

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**Author:** [@jdittrich](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/jdittrich)\
**Replies:** 0\
**Last updated:** [February 8, 2019, 7:35pm UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/rule-based-ux-evaluations/895 "2019-02-08T19:35:33Z")

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Recently, I was reviewing evaluation methods and I noted that so-called rule based methods might be particularly useful for open source projects. They are relatively easy to learn and, as found out in empirical studies, …

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## [Sharing research data and participant privacy](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/sharing-research-data-and-participant-privacy/641)

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**Author:** [@jdittrich](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/jdittrich)\
**Replies:** 7\
**Last updated:** [May 15, 2018, 2:32pm UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/sharing-research-data-and-participant-privacy/641 "2018-05-15T14:32:20Z")

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In the to-be-created OSD manifesto we talk about sharing, transparency and teaching as well as privacy. An interesting field where I find myself caught between the principles is sharing research data. I wonder what the …

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## [Conducting user intercept interviews for SecureDrop](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/conducting-user-intercept-interviews-for-securedrop/593)

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**Author:** [@dachary](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/dachary)\
**Replies:** 4\
**Last updated:** [March 1, 2018, 10:36pm UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/conducting-user-intercept-interviews-for-securedrop/593 "2018-03-01T22:36:18Z")

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Bonjour, Under the impulse of @ei8fdb the SecureDrop UX team recently took an interest in improving how we get input from users. I’m a developer for SecureDrop and my first time conducting a proper user interview will …

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## [»Coordinating low-cost usability testing in independent free & open source software projects« thesis](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/coordinating-low-cost-usability-testing-in-independent-free-open-source-software-projects-thesis/106)

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**Author:** [@jan](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/jan)\
**Replies:** 5\
**Last updated:** [September 13, 2017, 12:51pm UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/coordinating-low-cost-usability-testing-in-independent-free-open-source-software-projects-thesis/106 "2017-09-13T12:51:26Z")

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In 2011 I wrote a thesis on »Coordinating low-cost usability testing in independent free & open source software projects«. Since it covers more than that, I renamed it to »Usability in Free Software« and it’s also availa…

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## [Qualitative Data Analysis](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/qualitative-data-analysis/255)

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**Author:** [@jdittrich](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/jdittrich)\
**Replies:** 0\
**Last updated:** [August 1, 2017, 4:16pm UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/qualitative-data-analysis/255 "2017-08-01T16:16:02Z")

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I recently published an extension for LibreOffice Writer to support its use for qualitative data analysis – QDA Tag Tree If anyone of you does such research and uses the extension, I am happy about feedback.

[Next page](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/c/lounge/usability-review-research/15.md?page=1)