Research Methods
Last updated
Was this helpful?
Last updated
Was this helpful?
UX research methods address a variety of questions. Although there are commonly used research methods, each project is unique and requires specific research method based on the project's goals and needs. There are three stages of the research: exploratory, confirmatory and evaluative.
Exploratory research in UX design is a method used to gain a deep understanding of users, their needs, behaviors, and the context in which they use a product or service. It is often referred to as hypothesis-generating research and typically conducted at the early stages of the design process to help identify problems, generate ideas, and inform design decisions.
This type of research is particularly valuable when little is known about the user or the problem space and in many startups is referred to as “Discovery Research”.
Also known as hypothesis-testing research, involves testing specific hypotheses that we have formulated based on existing theories or prior exploratory research through structured, systematic, and quantitative methods.
Evaluative research in UX is a method of assessing and measuring the effectiveness, usability, and satisfaction of a product or service. The primary goal is to gather insights that can help improve the user experience by identifying strengths and areas for improvement. Evaluative research is typically conducted during and after the design and development phases of a product to ensure it meets user needs and expectations.
To help you choose which method is the most suitable for your project, 20 different methods are mapped across three dimensions: Behavioral vs Attitudinal, Qualitative vs Quantitative, Context of Use.
Quantitative research collects and analyses numbers (data). It helps us understand our users by understanding patterns, relationships, and trends using data that can be measured and counted. For example, tracking how often users click a call-to-action button on a new webpage versus an old version can reveal usage patterns.
Qualitative research collects subjective, descriptive feedback from users through conversations, observations, and written materials. It helps us understand users' feelings, experiences and thoughts about a product as well as reasoning for their behaviour. For example, asking open-ended questions during the interviews can uncover specific pain points, preferences, and suggestions for improvement that are not obvious from quantitative data along.
Behavioral research focuses on observing how users interact with a product or service directly. By observing users' actions, reactions, and habits we can understand patterns and reasons behind users' actual behavior. It provides insights that can be measured and analyzed objectively.
For example, tracking how users navigate a website to find out which pages they visit most and where they might get stuck.
Attitudinal research examines users' self-reported beliefs and perceptions. It aims to collect data on elements that cannot be directly observed, as they exist solely within users' minds. These include thoughts, opinions, attitudes, emotional responses, preferences, and mental models.
For example, asking customers how satisfied they are with a product or service and why while observing their face expressions and body language.
Context of product use refers to studying and understanding the various situations and environments in which product is used.
For example, observing users interacting with a new app without interfering or providing them with certain tasks to understand behavior or attitudes as close to reality as possible.
All these research methods are interconnected, often used in combination to provide a robust understanding of user needs, behaviors, and attitudes. This comprehensive insight is crucial for designing products that are effective, use-friendly, and satisfying in real-world contexts.
Further Resources:
