Research Methods Articles & Videos

  • Planning Research with Generative AI

    With the proper context, prompts, and scrutiny, AI chatbots can be used to create a successful user-research plan.

  • Diary Studies: Understanding Long-Term User Behavior and Experiences

    Participants log daily activities as they occur to give contextual insights about real-time user behaviors and needs.

  • Card Sorting: Why & When

    Card sorting studies help understand how users naturally categorize information. This information can help with creating a product's information architecture (IA) that matches users' mental models.

  • Attitudinal vs. Behavioral Research in UX

    Attitudinal research captures user opinions and feelings in the form of self-reported data; behavioral research observes user actions.

  • Frequency ≠ Importance in Qualitative Data

    Counting how frequently something is mentioned in qualitative data will not always show you what's most important. Sometimes, the most valuable insights are mentioned only once.

  • Should You Run a Survey?

    Even though surveys may be faster and cheaper than other research methods, they are not suited to all research goals.

  • Card Sorting: Uncover Users' Mental Models for Better Information Architecture

    In a card-sorting study, users organize topics into groups. Use this research method to create an information architecture that suits your users' expectations.

  • Open-Ended vs. Closed Questions in User Research

    Open-ended questions result in deeper insights. Closed questions provide clarification and detail, but no unexpected insights.

  • Tree Testing Part 2: Interpreting the Results

    Analyze tree-testing results including success, first click, and directness to improve information architecture and navigation labels.

  • Field Studies

    Field research is conducted in the user’s natural setting. Learn the unexpected by leaving the office and observing people in their normal environments.

  • Competitive Usability Evaluations

    Data on what works well or poorly on other sites saves you from implementing useless features and guides UX investments to features that your users need.

  • Research Repositories for UX Benchmarking Studies

    A benchmark research repository helps conduct valid benchmarking studies. It should include all the details and the raw data of your UX-benchmarking study.

  • How to Run Surveys at Every Stage of the Design Cycle

    Most UX surveys are administered during the final Listen phase of the design cycle. However, there are many different types of surveys, which can be used effectively throughout the design cycle.

  • Always Pilot Test User Research Studies

    Running a pilot test for a user research study enables you to assess the study's effectiveness and avoid common problems in the main study.

  • Focus Groups 101

    Focus groups are a polarizing research method. Within UX, they are best used in early discovery research to understand interest in a concept.

  • Stakeholder Interviews 101

    UX-stakeholder interviews help us gather any information that may help shape the design process, define success metrics, and ultimately meet stakeholder expectations.

  • Collecting Sensitive Demographic Data

    Demographic questions related to age, race, gender and income can be sensitive topics for research participants and need to be carefully framed by UX researchers.

  • Confounding Variables in Quantitative Studies

    Confounding variables interfere with quantitative studies, leading to inaccurate results. Avoid introducing such variables by randomizing your study’s conditions and keeping your research questions focused.

  • User Interviews 101

    User interviews help you learn who your users are, what their experiences are like, and what they need, value, and desire.

  • UX Research Methods: Glossary

    Use this glossary to quickly clarify key terms and concepts related to research methods in UX.