UX Research

Preface

Assumptions This Book Makes

This book is written for the user experience practitioners, designers, and managers being asked to conduct product research. It is written for the individuals who will be doing the research and need a quick reference on the rationale and process, as well as for the managers who are looking for a common language to discuss and ultimately sell research.

There is often mystery around product research, and an assumption that you need to be a Zen master of research methods to gather insights. This book intends to pull back the curtain on that assumption. Anyone can conduct product research. While nothing replaces practice and experience, those who read this book will be armed with a common language and set of tools to conduct research in an informed and productive manner.

Contents of This Book

This book is organized into four parts. Within each chapter, we provide the perspective of a professional working in the industry and we close with a short exercise (5–15 minutes) to practice the ideas presented in the book. We will reference documents and artifacts, and our companion website aims to provide sample templates of many of these documents for your use.

Part I, Introduction (Chapter 1)

Offers a brief introduction to UX research by exploring where research has come from and the various fields that impact our work.

Part II, Planning and Preparation (Chapter 2–Chapter 7)

Shifts to understanding the breadth of research available to practitioners. Chapter 2 defines ...