Design is for designers; programming is for developers.
But user research is for everyone, a universal duty.
Are you interested in learning how to do user research effectively?
This beginner-friendly guide is just what you need.
Avoid Top 3 Mistakes Conducting User Research
If you’re thinking, “That’s exactly what I’m doing right now!” you’re on the right track.
Make Sure Before You Research
Well-thought-out research answers five fundamental questions below:
This guide focuses on the critical trio: why, who, and how.
1. Why: Define Clear Goals
Effective research requires a clear and specific goal.
The more precise your goal, the richer insights you will gather.
Remember, user research aims to verify problems found in desk research and provide helpful insights for them.
2. Who: Identify the Right Participants
Narrow down your target participants.
This overlooked yet crucial step helps ensure your research’s credibility. Focus on those who are most relevant to the problem you’re researching.
To do this effectively, you should segregate your users based on various criteria (e.g. demographics, attitudes, and characteristics). Then, select criteria that align with the problem you’re trying to verify and quantify the range.
For example:
- [Demographics] Focus on 25–34-year-olds who are single households.
- [Attitudes] Consider users who have shopped on Amazon twice or more on average in the last three months.
By doing so, you can make your insights more accurate and beneficial.
3. How: Choose Your Research Method
You should find the method that suits your research goal and participants.
Here are 3 frequently used research methods:
- [Interviews] In-depth(one on one) or group
- [Observations] Watch and learn how participants use a service.
- [Card Sorting] Understand user mental models by observing how they categorize and list cards.
(Surveys are helpful, but only as a supplement. They lack detail on specific experiences.)
Most methods include questioning.
So remember:
By reading this, you’ve taken the first step towards becoming an informed user researcher. Keep this enthusiasm going and apply these strategies for effective user research!
Now, it’s over to you. What are your thoughts on effective user research? Share in the comments below!
