What is the main purpose of shadowing someone?

The main purpose of shadowing someone is to directly observe their behavior in person. This method is often used in user experience design to gain insights into how people interact with systems, tools, or processes in their natural environments. By being present and observing someone as they go about their daily tasks, you can gather qualitative data that might not be captured through interviews or surveys. This first-hand perspective helps identify pain points, inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement in their experience, allowing designers to create more user-centered solutions.

In contrast to this, options that involve mapping a digital presence or studying someone without permission do not align with the primary intention of shadowing, which focuses on real-time interaction and user behavior. Similarly, while developing empathy is an important aspect of UX design, the act of shadowing is specifically about observation rather than direct assistance in their work. Therefore, directly observing someone provides the most valuable insights into their behaviors and challenges, making this the correct answer.