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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Think Like a UX Researcher summary
David Travis, Philip Hodgson
How to Observe Users, Influence Design, and Shape Business Strategy
18 mins
Brief summary
Think Like a UX Researcher empowers professionals to approach user experience with strategic questioning techniques, practical methodologies, and insightful analysis, fostering a deeper understanding of users to enhance design processes and create impactful, user-centered solutions.
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Think Like a UX Researcher
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The seven sins of UX research
Sarah, a seasoned UX researcher, sat in the observation room, watching yet another usability test unfold. The participant, a middle-aged man named Tom, was struggling to complete a seemingly basic task on a new banking app. As Tom fumbled through the interface, muttering under his breath, Sarah noticed the product manager’s growing unease. “Just ask him what he wants,” the manager whispered urgently. “We can fix it if we know what he’s looking for.”
Luckily, Sarah ignored him – because interfering would’ve been a mistake. In the realm of user experience research, seven cardinal sins can lead even the most well-intentioned teams astray.
Credulity, the first of these sins, occurs when researchers take users’ stated preferences at face value without investigating deeper. To combat this, prioritize observing users over directly questioning them. People’s actions often speak louder than their words.
Dogmatism is the second sin. It’s committed when teams stubbornly adhere to a single research methodology, blinding them to valuable insights. The antidote? Flexibility. Try combining qualitative and quantitative approaches to gain a broader understanding of user needs.
Bias is sin number three. It creeps in when personal or organizational preferences skew research outcomes, leading to misguided design decisions. To avoid this, tackle your work with an open mind, seeking truth rather than validation of preexisting ideas.
The fourth sin, obscurantism, happens when research findings are hoarded within a small group, stifling the spread of user-centric thinking. Counter this by fostering a culture where all team members regularly engage with users – aiming for at least two hours of direct observation every six weeks.
Laziness, the fifth deadly sin, manifests as recycling outdated information instead of gathering fresh insights. Embrace an iterative process, where you continuously build, measure, learn, and redesign.
The sixth sin is vagueness in research objectives. It leads to unfocused efforts and diluted ans. Instead, hone in on specific, high-priority questions. This focused approach yields rich, actionable data that directly informs design decisions.
And last but not least, hubris is the seventh sin. It’s the excessive pride researchers take in producing lengthy, complex reports that fail to communicate what they’ve actually learned. To avoid this, focus on creating concise, visual summaries of your findings. These “information radiators” make it easy for teams to quickly grasp and act on the most crucial user insights.
By recognizing and addressing these seven sins, UX teams can elevate their research practices, leading to more user-centered designs – and, ultimately, more successful products and services.
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What is Think Like a UX Researcher about?
Think Like a UX Researcher (2023) is a guide to user experience research. It provides strategies for planning, conducting, and analyzing UX research, while also offering insights on career development and team leadership in the field.
Who should read Think Like a UX Researcher?
- Students studying UX research and design
- UX researchers looking to refine their methods
- Product managers seeking to make data-driven decisions
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