What type of elicitation technique are you using if you observe users without interaction?

The correct answer is passive observation, which refers to a technique where a business analyst or researcher observes users interacting with a system or performing tasks without engaging with them or influencing their behavior. This method allows the analyst to gather unbiased insights into users’ actions, workflow, and potential areas of improvement by seeing how they naturally behave in their environment.

By remaining passive, the observer can collect data on actions, frequencies, and interactions that might not be articulated during interviews or surveys. This technique is particularly useful in understanding user habits and identifying any issues or inefficiencies in processes without the distortion that might come from direct questioning or interference.

In contrast, the other options imply some level of interaction or engagement with the users, which diminishes the value of the observational findings. For example, passive interviewing indicates a more active role in communication, which can lead to altered user behaviors. Similarly, passive watching and passive survey suggest forms of engagement that do not maintain the pure observational aspects that passive observation captures. Therefore, passive observation stands out as the most accurate description of the technique being used.