← VCE Software Development U3O2

Analysing interview and survey responses to find needs

Sorting similar interview and survey responses into themes, then counting how often each appears, so the most common problems and wishes become the user needs.

Part of: VCE Software Development - U3O2 - Analysis and Design — Module 27, 9-10 Digital Technologies: Defining and decomposing problems — Module 14, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 1 — Understanding Digital Problems — Module 50, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 2 — Data-Driven Problems and Solution Requirements — Module 29

Understanding Analysing interview and survey responses to find needs in VCE Software Development U3O2

What it does: Two differently worded comments mean the same problem, so they are placed in one theme called Speed and counted together. The two groups want different things from the same feature, so the analysis must record the conflict and work out a balance. Thematic analysis starts by sorting similar responses into themes so patterns become visible. One comment alone doesn't show a common need. Counting shows which problems and wishes are most common, so you can see which ones become the main user needs. The theme mentioned most often is the strongest evidence of a need. Ease of fixing is a separate decision made later.

Common mistakes: A comment about slow loading belongs in the Speed theme, not Colour. Similar comments must be grouped together. It should be theme <- 'Speed'. Setting speed to 1 each time overwrites the count instead of adding to it. It should be speed <- speed + 1 so every response is counted.

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Learning
Duo
A survey has 40 free-text comments about the school canteen. What is the best first step to find user needs?
Pick the single most interesting comment and build a solution for itGroup similar comments into themes such as 'long queues' or 'healthy options'
Matches
Only 1 of 30 students said "Needs dark mode" -> Top user need: Dark mode
↓
The theme was treated as the top need even though only one response mentioned it. Counting shows it is rare, so it is not the most common need.
Applying
Meanings
Term
thematic analysis
Meaning
Sorting similar interview and survey responses into themes, then counting how often each appears, so the most common problems and wishes become the user needs.
Practice
Theme 1: Slow loading - 9 responses
Testing
Gaps
Step 1: Sort similar comments into
Check Answer
Spots
1comment <- 'Too slow to load'
2theme <- 'Colour'

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Quick Questions

1. A survey has 40 free-text comments about the school canteen. What is the best first step to find user needs?
A. Group similar comments into themes such as 'long queues' or 'healthy options' ✓
B. Pick the single most interesting comment and build a solution for it
Thematic analysis starts by sorting similar responses into themes so patterns become visible. One comment alone doesn't show a common need.
2. Once comments are sorted into themes, what do you do next?
A. Delete the themes that have more than one response
B. Count how many responses fall into each theme ✓
Counting shows which problems and wishes are most common, so you can see which ones become the main user needs.
3. Of 30 students surveyed, 18 mention slow Wi-Fi and 3 mention the colour of the login screen. Which is more likely to become a key user need?
A. Faster Wi-Fi, because it is the most common problem ✓
B. The login screen colour, because it is easier to fix
The theme mentioned most often is the strongest evidence of a need. Ease of fixing is a separate decision made later.
4. A student says, 'I need to check my timetable quickly.' Another says, 'I'd love a dark mode.' Which comment shows a need?
A. Checking the timetable quickly, because the app can't do its job without it ✓
B. Dark mode, because the student said 'love'
A need is something the user must have for the solution to work for them. A want is a nice extra that improves the experience.
5. Which statement correctly separates a need from a want in analysis?
A. A need is anything a user says; a want is anything they don't say
B. A need is essential to solve the problem; a want is a nice-to-have extra ✓
Users say many things in interviews. Analysis sorts what they say into essential needs and optional wants.

Match the Pairs

Theme: Hard to find books | Count: 12 of 30 → A theme label with a count shows how many responses mention the same problem, so the most common problems stand out.
Need: Search by title | Want: Dark mode → Separates a need that fixes the main problem from a want that is nice to have but not essential.
Similar comments are grouped under one theme label so they can be counted together → "Too slow" + "Takes ages to load" -> Theme: Speed
Stakeholders can have conflicting needs that must be spotted and recorded during analysis → Students: Need quick login | Teachers: Need secure login
Only 1 of 30 students said "Needs dark mode" -> Top user need: Dark mode → The theme was treated as the top need even though only one response mentioned it. Counting shows it is rare, so it is not the most common need.
"Slow" -> Theme: Speed | "Slow to load" -> Theme: Loading | "Takes ages" -> Theme: Time → Similar responses were put into three different themes instead of one, so the count for each theme looks small and the real problem is hidden.

Key Term

thematic analysis
Sorting similar interview and survey responses into themes, then counting how often each appears, so the most common problems and wishes become the user needs.

Fill in the Blanks

1. Step 1: Sort similar comments into themes
Hint: Type the word for the groups that similar comments are sorted into.
2. Step 2: Count how often each theme appears
Hint: Type the action you do to find which themes are most common.
3. Theme: Cannot log in (18 of 30) -> need
Hint: Type the word for a common problem that stops users from using the solution, as opposed to a nice extra.
4. Parents want less screen time Teens want more -> conflicting needs
Hint: Type the word describing needs from different stakeholders that clash.
5. IF count >= 10 THEN mark as user need
Hint: Type the operator that means at least this many mentions.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A comment <- 'Too slow to load'
B theme <- 'Colour'
C ADD comment TO theme
Line B — A comment about slow loading belongs in the Speed theme, not Colour. Similar comments must be grouped together. It should be theme <- 'Speed'.
Question 2
A speed <- 0
B FOR comment IN speed_list
C speed <- 1
D PRINT speed
Line C — Setting speed to 1 each time overwrites the count instead of adding to it. It should be speed <- speed + 1 so every response is counted.
Question 3
A NEED: Purple colour theme
B NEED: Works without wifi
C Build NEEDs before WANTs
Line A — A colour theme is nice to have but the app still works without it, so it is a want. It should be labelled WANT.
Question 4
A Speed: 14 responses
B Price: 6 responses
C Colour: 2 responses
D Top need <- Colour
Line D — The top need is the theme with the highest count. Speed has 14 responses, so it should be Top need <- Speed.
Question 5
A Parent NEED: see all grades
B Student NEED: private grades
C CONFLICT: none, needs agree
D Next: discuss with both groups
Line C — Parents want to see all grades while students want them private, so the needs conflict. It should say CONFLICT: yes, needs clash.

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