RESEARCH METHOD

99 Wizard of OzImage

In the Wizard of Oz technique, a researcher (the “wizard”) simulates system responses from behind the scenes, while a participant engages with a system that appears to be real.

The Wizard of Oz (WOz) technique is a method in which participants are led to believe they are interacting with a working prototype of a system, but in reality, a researcher is acting as a proxy for the system from behind the scenes. Unseen by the participant, the researcher (i.e., the “wizard”) is able to intercept and shape the interaction between the participant and the “system,” without having an actual system up and running. The goal ...

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