Deployment Study
Also known as: Field Deployment, In-the-Wild Study
A research method where technology is placed in users' real-world environments for an extended period to observe natural usage patterns, adoption behaviors, and long-term experiences. Unlike controlled lab studies, deployment studies capture ecological validity by revealing how people actually integrate technology into their daily routines. In accessibility research, deployment studies are particularly valuable for understanding how assistive technologies perform in authentic contexts with real barriers and workarounds.
Category: Research Methods · research methodology · user research
Related: Within-Subjects Design · Diary Study