Update researchplan.md (#185)

Signed-off-by: Buddhima Kurukulasuriya <[email protected]>

documentation/research/researchplan.md

@@ -1,29 +1,26 @@
 ## RESEARCH PLAN
 
-### Design Research Goals
+### Research Goals
 
 We will conduct design research activities with first-time prospective college students aged 15-25 to understand their needs, desires, and mental models related to finding and applying to college. We are looking to learn:
 
-
-
-* How prospective students think about the college application process:
-    * What they anticipate the experience will be like, and how it works (aka, the mental model)
-    * What pain points they forsee for themselves or peers
-    * What their need, goals, and fears are
-    * Other tools they use to accomplish college-related tasks
-    * What motivates and demotivates them related to applying to college - functionally, emotionally and socially
-* How effective our MVP is at helping students meet their needs related to:
-    * Finding colleges that might be a good fit
-    * Applying for those colleges
-* How students would rate and prioritize post-MVP features like saving colleges, tracking applications, and the college/financial aid quiz.
+* Understand how prospective students think about the college application process:
+   * What are their needs, goals, and fears?
+   * What do they anticipate the experience might be like, how it works, and what they might do? (Understanding their mental model and approach)
+   * What pain points do they foresee for themselves and people around them?
+   * What tools do they use to accomplish college-related tasks?
+   * What motivates and demotivates them related to applying to college - functionally, emotionally and socially?
+* Understand effectivity of our MVP at helping students meet their needs related to:
+   * Finding colleges that might be a good fit
+   * Applying for those colleges
+* Understand how students would rate and prioritize post-MVP features like saving colleges, tracking applications, and the college/financial aid quiz.
+   * Learn more about what we might have missed
 
 
 ### Methodology
 
 We propose 60-minute, 1:1 interviews with students. They could follow this general format:
 
-
-
 * Part 1: Open ended questions 
 * Part 2: Usability testing session 
 * Part 3: Concept testing session
@@ -35,18 +32,25 @@ A **concept testing session** involves collecting users’ thoughts and attitude
 
 ### Outcome
 
-Our learnings will inform content and visual enhancements along with metrics  to the measure effectivity, ensuring that we are building for the right mental model, and help us build out a roadmap for the product’s future.
+Our learnings will:
+* Inform content and visual enhancements along with metrics  to measure effectivity, ensuring that we are building the right features for our users. 
+* Help prioritize and plan out a roadmap for the product’s future.
 
 
-### Recruitment Approach
 
-Since we’re focusing on first-time college applicants, our primary source of students would likely be highschools or programs for high-school aged students (like community-based organizations, college prep programs, etc). We would prioritize speaking with students from underserved communities, or those who may need more support overcoming systemic obstacles to college.
+### Recruitment Approach
 
-We might also invite a few adults from advocacy organization that could help us understand the landscape of college applications and financial aid.
+Since we’re focusing on first-time college applicants, our primary source of students would likely be highschools and programs for high-school aged students (like community-based organizations, college prep programs, etc). We would prioritize speaking with students from underserved communities, or those who may need more support overcoming systemic obstacles to college.
 
+Other personas of interest:
+* Advocacy organizations that could help us understand the landscape of college applications and financial aid.
+* People in an applicant’s support system (family, peers etc)
+* College administrators who manage application cycles and information
+
 Our recruitment methods would be determined in collaboration with DoE stakeholders.
 
 
+
 ### Next steps