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Research

Who Are You Asking?: Qualitative Methods for Involving AAC Users as Primary Research Participants

When trying to understand people's perspectives, qualitative researchers in HCI often use methods which assume participants can easily communicate verbally. There are few dedicated resources in HCI which provide an overview of qualitative methods to effectively gather the perspectives of people who cannot easily communicate verbally; specifically, people who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). As a result, AAC users might be excluded from studies using methods such as interviews or focus groups, even if they fit the researcher's target population. To address this problem, I review literature from both HCI and therapeutic AAC research fields to discuss methods used with AAC users. In addition, I present relevant case examples from my own qualitative research and propose a framework to guide HCI researchers on choosing appropriate methods when involving AAC users as central research participants. I also identify design opportunities for HCI researchers to innovate on the tools and methods used for qualitative research with AAC users. This paper provides an easily accessible overview of qualitative methods HCI researchers can use with AAC users as participants. 

Read the full paper.

Erin Beneteau

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Projects in Health & Well-Being

  • Using Everyday Routines for Understanding Health Behaviors
  • Who Are You Asking?: Qualitative Methods for Involving AAC Users as Primary Research Participants
  • Where Are My Parents?: Information Needs of Hospitalized Children
  • Parenting with Alexa: Exploring the Introduction of Smart Speakers on Family Dynamics
  • “Eavesdropping”: An Information Source for Inpatients
  • Detecting Depression and Predicting its Onset Using Longitudinal Symptoms Captured by Passive Sensing: A Machine Learning Approach With Robust Feature Selection
  • Mobile Assessment of Acute Effects of Marijuana on Cognitive Functioning in Young Adults: Observational Study

News

An instructor speaks to a group of students in a classroom

Students, faculty collaborate and bond at summer institute

Wednesday, September 3, 2025
Melanie Walsh is always looking for ways to expand on research and develop stronger connections with students. “Students often approach me and want to see if they can get involved with my research,” Walsh said. “I really want to...
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Micah McCarty, Makah, addresses participants

Leadership summit trains Indigenous youth in water resource advocacy

Thursday, August 28, 2025
Tribal youth leaders from across the Northwest gathered at the University of Washington on Aug. 14 to learn how to advocate for their communities’ water resources.The iSchool’s Clarita Lefthand-Begay, Diné, hosted the Tribal Youth...
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Informatics Program Overview for UW Seattle Students

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3:00-4:00PM

Informatics Program Overview for First-Year and Current HS Applicants

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9:00-1:00PM

MSIM Online Autumn Orientation

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Sep 16
 
9:00-4:00PM

MSIM EC/ECA Orientation 2025 (Day 1)

Husky Union Building "HUB" South Ballroom
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