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Research Methods

A comprehensive collection of UX research methods to help you make better design decisions.

Compare two versions of a design to determine which performs better against specific metrics.

evaluation
Budget medium
Time 2-4 weeks
Team small

Assess how well a product can be used by people with disabilities and ensure compliance with accessibility standards like WCAG.

evaluation usability
Budget medium
Time 2-4 weeks
Team small

Analyze quantitative data from digital products to understand user behavior patterns and identify issues.

evaluation usability
Budget low
Time 1-2 weeks
Team single

Measure UX performance over time using consistent metrics.

evaluation
Budget high
Time 1-3 months
Team large

Understand how users categorize and organize information to improve information architecture.

information_architecture exploratory
Budget low
Time 1-2 weeks
Team single

Step-by-step evaluation of a task flow from a user's perspective to identify usability issues.

evaluation usability
Budget low
Time 1-2 weeks
Team single

Evaluate competitors' products to identify industry standards, best practices, and opportunities for differentiation.

exploratory evaluation
Budget low
Time 2-4 weeks
Team single

Evaluate early-stage ideas, wireframes, or prototypes with users before development.

exploratory evaluation
Budget medium
Time 1-2 weeks
Team small

Systematically inventory and evaluate content to identify gaps, redundancies, and improvement opportunities across digital channels.

information_architecture evaluation
Budget medium
Time 2-4 weeks
Team small

Observe and interview users in their natural environment while they perform tasks to understand context of use.

exploratory generative
Budget high
Time 2-4 weeks
Team small

Visualize the end-to-end experience of users across touchpoints to identify pain points and opportunities.

exploratory generative
Budget medium
Time 2-4 weeks
Team small

Systematically evaluate the consistency, usability, and effectiveness of a design system across digital products.

evaluation usability
Budget medium
Time 2-4 weeks
Team small

Evaluate emotional responses and preferences for design alternatives using card sorting or other techniques.

evaluation generative
Budget medium
Time 1-2 weeks
Team small

Collect user experiences over time through self-reported entries to understand long-term usage patterns.

exploratory evaluation
Budget medium
Time 2-8 weeks
Team small

Measure where users look on a screen to understand visual attention and cognitive processing.

usability evaluation
Budget high
Time 2-4 weeks
Team small

Observe users in their natural environment to understand real-world behaviors.

exploratory generative
Budget high
Time 1-3 months
Team large

Measure where users first click when attempting a task to evaluate navigation intuitiveness.

usability evaluation
Budget low
Time 1 week
Team single

Show users a design for five seconds and then ask what they recall to evaluate first impressions and clarity.

evaluation usability
Budget low
Time 1 week
Team single

Facilitated discussions with multiple users to gather diverse opinions and insights.

exploratory evaluation
Budget medium
Time 1-2 weeks
Team small

Expert review of a product against established usability principles to identify potential issues.

evaluation usability
Budget low
Time 1-2 weeks
Team single

Collaborative sessions that bring together diverse users, designers, and stakeholders to identify and address accessibility and inclusion challenges.

generative exploratory usability
Budget medium
Time 1-2 weeks
Team small

Test multiple variables simultaneously to determine optimal combinations for achieving specific goals.

evaluation
Budget high
Time 1-3 months
Team large

Involves users directly in the design process to create solutions that meet their needs.

generative
Budget medium
Time 2-4 weeks
Team small

Create research-based representations of key user types to guide design decisions and build empathy.

exploratory generative
Budget medium
Time 2-4 weeks
Team small

Evaluate interactive mockups of a product before full development to validate concepts and interactions.

evaluation usability
Budget medium
Time 1-3 weeks
Team small

Conduct usability testing with users in different locations while actively guiding the session.

usability evaluation
Budget medium
Time 1-3 weeks
Team small

Collect usability data from users completing tasks on their own time without a moderator present.

usability evaluation
Budget low
Time 1-2 weeks
Team single

Map the entire service delivery process, including customer-facing touchpoints and behind-the-scenes operations.

exploratory evaluation
Budget medium
Time 2-4 weeks
Team small

Collect quantitative and qualitative data from a large number of users through structured questionnaires.

exploratory evaluation
Budget low
Time 1-2 weeks
Team single

Break down user tasks into steps to understand workflows and identify optimization opportunities.

exploratory usability
Budget medium
Time 2-4 weeks
Team small

Evaluate the findability of content within a hierarchical structure without visual design influence.

information_architecture evaluation
Budget low
Time 1-2 weeks
Team single

Observe real users completing tasks with your product to identify usability issues, pain points, and opportunities for improvement.

usability evaluation
Budget medium
Time 2-4 weeks
Team small

One-on-one conversations with users to gather in-depth insights about their needs, behaviors, and pain points.

exploratory evaluation
Budget medium
Time 1-3 weeks
Team small

Evaluate the usability and effectiveness of voice-based interfaces like voice assistants, IVR systems, and voice commands.

usability evaluation
Budget medium
Time 2-4 weeks
Team small