ResearchOps: Study Guide

Here’s a list of NN/g’s most useful introductory articles and videos about ResearchOps and related topics. Within each section, the resources are in recommended reading order.

For hands-on training, check out our full-day course, ResearchOps: Scaling User Research.

ResearchOps: An Overview

ResearchOps refers to the orchestration and optimization of people, processes, and craft in order to amplify the value and impact of research at scale.

ResearchOps is a specialized area of DesignOps focused specifically on components concerning user-research practices. It’s a collective term for efforts aimed at supporting researchers in planning, conducting, and applying quality user research. Common focus areas of ResearchOps practices include:

• Participants: Recruiting, screening, scheduling, and compensating participants
• Governance: Processes and guidelines for consent, privacy, and information storage
• Knowledge: Processes and platforms for collecting, synthesizing, and sharing research insights
• Tools: Enabling efficiencies in research through consistent toolsets and platforms
• Competency: Enabling, educating, and onboarding others to perform research activities
• Advocacy: Defining, sharing, and socializing the value of user research throughout the organization

If you’re new to ResearchOps, start with the introductory resources below and then move on to the more advanced content included in this study guide.

• 4-minute video: ResearchOps 101
• Overview of ResearchOps and its components: ResearchOps 101
• Summary of the ReOps field today: The State of ResearchOps

Research Methods

These resources provide guidance on understanding and using the right research methods at the right time in the design process.

The following study guides offer more in-depth collections for creating protocols for specific types of UX-research methods:

• Qualitative Usability Testing: Study Guide
• Quantitative Research: Study Guide
• Context Methods: Study Guide

Participant Management

These resources provide guidance on recruiting, screening, and managing research participants.

For more in-depth guidance on recruiting usability-testing participants, check out our free report: How to Recruit Participants for Usability Studies.

Governance

These resources provide guidance on how user research should be conducted to ensure it’s ethical and performed in line with data-protection best practices and regulation.

Knowledge Management

Articles and videos for collecting, tracking, sharing, and enabling wider access to user research findings.

Tools

These resources provide guidance on selecting and setting up research tools and platforms so that research can be conducted effectively.

Socialization and Advocacy

These resources help teams define, share, and socialize the value of UX research.

Related Study Guides

For a broader understanding of DesignOps, of which ResearchOps is a specialized area, see our article, DesignOps: Study Guide.