👉 Touring research is an iterative and flexible method used primarily in user experience (UX) design, user interface (UI) design, and product development to gather insights directly from users in their natural environments. Unlike traditional lab-based research, where participants are confined to a controlled setting, touring research involves researchers visiting participants at their actual locations—such as homes, workplaces, or public spaces—to observe and interact with users in real-world contexts. This approach allows for a deeper understanding of how users interact with products or services in their everyday lives, capturing authentic behaviors, challenges, and preferences that might not emerge in a lab. Researchers can ask follow-up questions, provide immediate support, and adapt their methods on the fly, making touring research highly responsive and contextually rich.
