UX Research Crash Course
A few tips for navigating the deceptively complex UX research process
While UX research may seem easy at first, there are nuances that may not meet the untrained eye. Reframing questions, deftly digging into participants’ actions, and noticing subtle shifts in body language are skills that trained researchers use to uncover users’ underlying needs and produce valid and thorough product research.
Recently I was asked to provide a quick training on UX research for the UX designers on my team. They found the overview helpful, so I wanted to share it more widely.
1. Make the session as realistic as possible
Provide your participants with a quick overview of how the session will go and let them know the topic(s) you want to cover. Start the session with more general questions or discussions in order to get them into the right mindset. For example, if your research session will focus on various types of communications they currently receive, begin by discussing the general types, formats, and content of their incoming communications. After this introduction, move into a more specific focus area. Perhaps you’re curious what emails they’re receiving from various companies and want to learn more about how they scan and sort through them.
