A UX Research Sample- Recruitment Software Company
UX Research, Research Proposal
User experience research more commonly known as UXR is an important process for any product. As UX researchers, it is key to remember that our role is to advocate for our users, building empathy for those who use our products or services. This allows for a deeper understanding of the users’ needs and to effectively develop strategies to remove pain points. But before we begin delving into all that fun stuff, there is one important step.
"A goal without a plan is just a wish."
Similarly, to reach our objectives of finding solutions to provide seamless experiences for our users, we need to start with a plan! Having a plan when we conduct UX research is important as it gives us an opportunity to think clearly about our research objectives and execute organized steps to achieve those objectives.
1. Understanding Background
Research is a complex process so I always like to start by understanding the background. What is the company's goal? What is the end goal? While you might be excited to jump straight into considering different methodologies to use, communicating with your stakeholders and understanding what they need is a critical component. Another important question I would ask is "Which stage of testing is this?" Is it a new product? Is it a prototype? If it has already been tested, why are we doing it again? Is this going to be testing 2.0 with a high-fidelity prototype?
I think these questions are important to ask because they guide you toward specific UX research methodology and tools you can use accordingly. Phew... That was a lot of questions asked! Before I forget, I write all this important information down in my proposal. I include "Objectives" and "Research Questions" as a consolidation of all the information in an easy-to-read format.
2. Recruitment
Now that we have figured out the objective and purpose of conducting the research, where do we go to find our users? Users help us understand if products and services are working well or not. Some factors to consider when thinking about where to find participants include budget, convenience, experience and project timeline. Below is a table I use when deciding where I should go to recruit my users.
3. Action Plan
In this study, I decided that the best approach was to use a moderated semi-structured interview. After I decide, I use tables to indicate the reason for my approach, the process and the technology or tools I might use during the testing. Below is an example, if there are multiple steps to the process, breaking it down into different phases helps!
Here is a link to my usability testing script and interview guide. It helps to prepare ahead to save time during the actual testing session.
4. Synthesizing Data
It's time to put that plan into action! After conducting the user testing process, below is a table I use to chart out the next steps and why I do it.
5. Sharing!
Finally, it's time to share your findings. This stage is exciting but can be complex as communication is key and remember, you are sharing your findings with team members from very different backgrounds. I always like to communicate with my stakeholders and team members openly and realistically throughout the research process. It is a team effort so involve everyone by providing updates through group chats.
I think bite-sized updates are particularly useful and if you were to conduct interviews online, feel free to send a link to your team so they can join in and observe. Of course, be sure to inform your user ahead of time. Here is a simple table I consolidated on how you can effectively communicate your findings!
I hope this example was helpful to you! As a researcher, I am continuously learning new ways to conduct research in a meaningful and effective way. To aid my learning and execution, I tend to organize my thought processes in different steps.
Research can be complex and it is important to find strategies to prevent yourself from getting overwhelmed. Always return back to the research objectives and ask yourself "Why". Why are you using a certain type of methodology, why are you synthesizing data in a specific way? Is it helpful in communicating findings clearly?
If you are able to answer these questions, you are on the right track! All the best on your next UX research journey!
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