TABLE 2.

Selected Design Research Methods Used for CyberRwanda

MethodExamples of How They Were Used for CyberRwanda
Card sortingParticipants ranked cards with different images of people in order of preference (e.g., people they trust most with sensitive information or who they would ask for information on reproductive health). Additional prompts and discussion informed the initial design of the characters who deliver information in the webcomic.
Vignette cardsTo explore provider knowledge and biases, pharmacists and clinic staff were asked to opine on which family planning methods and reproductive health services might be “appropriate” for different mock clients.
Role playRole play was used extensively to understand taboos and stigma that youth held in discussing their reproductive health with others, including peers, providers, teachers, and parents, and prompt discussion on how to address these challenges. Dialogues also helped inform the style and tone of conversational content for the webcomic.
Codesign activitiesWorkshops gather audiences of focus to take part in the creative development process of brainstorming ideas for a specific design challenge and then bring them to life by creating rough representations of their solution idea. Youth were asked to develop paper prototypes of their own campaign addressing adolescent pregnancy in Rwanda to prompt further discussion on messaging, content, and digital and nondigital delivery channels (e.g., social media, magazines, and school lessons).
SurveysRapid, small sample surveys were used during design research to capture baseline knowledge, demographics, and technology usage among participants.
Journey mappingParticipants drew their journey maps, setting different life milestones and their expected timeline for their achievement.
Mystery clientsMystery clients are trained community members who visit services or facilities in the role of the patient or client and report on their experience. Mystery clients were used to explore the service experience for young people requiring different products and services at pharmacies.
ObservationObservation was a critical method used to understand the level of privacy, dignity, and comfort for young people accessing health care services. In schools, observation of teachers, equipment, and classroom spaces helped us test assumptions around using school laptops to deliver CyberRwanda. Observations that existing laptops were not easy to use by untrained staff and did not afford privacy led to a pivot to instead use tablets in kiosks or school clubs.
PersonasaPersonas were used to better define potential groups of users with shared characteristics regarding knowledge, needs, and access to technology.