User Experience (UX) Research Methods

Users are asked to complete tasks using a product or prototype, allowing researchers to identify usability issues.

Example: A user is asked to navigate through a website prototype and complete a purchase to identify any challenges or frustrations they encounter.

Users are asked to categorize and prioritize information, features, or content to help inform the organization and structure of a product.

Example: Users are given a set of cards representing website content and asked to group them into categories that make sense to them.

Users are asked to complete tasks by navigating through a hierarchical structure (such as a website's information architecture) without the visual design.

Example: A user is presented with a text-based menu structure and asked to find specific information or complete a task.

Users are shown a static user interface mock-up and asked where they would click first to complete a given task.

Example: A user is shown a screenshot of a homepage and asked where they would click to find the company's contact information.

To identify potential issues, UX experts assess a product or interface based on established usability principles or heuristics.

Example: A UX professional reviews a website based on Nielsen's ten usability heuristics and notes any violations or potential improvements.

Researchers walk through a series of tasks in a product, examining the user's mental processes and decision-making at each step.

Example: A researcher goes through the process of signing up for an online service, considering the user's understanding and expectations at each step.

Researchers conduct interviews and observations with users in their natural environment to gather context-specific insights.

Example: A researcher visits a user's workplace to observe and ask questions about how they use specific software in their daily tasks.

Researchers create fictional characters based on user research to represent different segments of their target audience.

Example: A company develops a persona for "Tech-Savvy Tina," who represents users that are comfortable with technology and value convenience.

Researchers develop realistic scenarios and tasks that users might encounter while using a product, helping to inform design decisions.

Example: A company creates scenarios for users trying to book a hotel room on their app, considering factors like search preferences and filters.

Researchers visually represent users' different stages when interacting with a product, highlighting key touchpoints and potential pain points. (Read the ultimate guide on journey mapping here)

Example: A UX team maps out the user journey for a mobile app, from onboarding to goal completion, to identify areas for improvement.