Reconstructing Experiences through Sketching

We present iScale, a survey tool for the retrospective elicitation of longitudinal user experience data. iScale employs sketching in imposing a process in the reconstruction of one’s experiences with the aim to minimize retrospection bias. Two versions, the Constructive and the ValueAccount iScale, were motivated by two distinct theories on how people reconstruct emotional experiences from memory. These two versions were tested in two separate studies. Study 1 aimed at providing qualitative insight into the use of iScale and compared its performance to that of free-hand sketching. Study 2 compared the two versions of iScale to free recall, a control condition that does not influence the reconstruction process. Significant differences between iScale and free recall were found. Overall, iScale resulted in an increase in the amount, the richness, and the test-retest reliability of recalled information. These results provide support for the viability of retrospective techniques as a cost-effective alternative to longitudinal studies.