Choosing Your Methods Flashcards
(10 cards)
Why is choosing the right UX research method important, and how should teams approach it?
Selecting the right research method is not about following a fixed playbook, but about aligning your approach to your project’s goals, questions, and constraints. A method that works well for one project may be ineffective or even misleading in another.
There’s no one-size-fits-all model, but asking the right planning questions helps you make confident, strategic choices.
What are the six key dimensions that should guide the selection of the right UX research method?
- What are your questions?
- Stakeholders need
- Sample size
- Sample location
- Budget
- Timeline
Explain the first dimension when choosing the right UX research method: What are your questions?
This is the foundation of your method selection.
Ask:
- What do I want to learn?
- Am I trying to explore, understand, evaluate, or validate?
- Am I asking “What is happening” or “Why is it happening”?
- Are my questions about behaviors, motivations, attitudes, or preferences?
Helps determine: Qualitative vs. Quantitative, Generative vs. Evaluative methods
The act of reflecting on your own questions is a research activity in itself.
Explain the second dimension when choosing the right UX research method: What do Stakeholders need?
Understanding your stakeholders goals keeps research relevant and actionable.
Ask:
- What decisions do stakeholders need to make with this research?
- Are they looking for proof, exploration, or validation?
- Will they respond better to numbers and charts, or to stories and video clips?
- Do they need something to present upward or something to guide design?
Understanding what your stakeholders care about helps you:
- Choose the right methods
- Deliver findings in the right format
- Gain buy-in and momentum
- Ensure that research is acted on, not just achieved
Helps determine: Method format, reporting style, and level of detail
Explain the third dimension when choosing the right UX research method: What’s your sample size?
This defines your confidence level and research scope.
Ask:
- How many users can I realistically access?
- Is my audience broad or niche?
- Do I need statistical significance or rich qualitative feedback?
- Can I segment my data meaningfully?
Helps determine: Quantitative (large-scale) vs. Qualitative (Small-scale) methods
Explain the forth dimension when choosing the right UX research method: Where is your sample located?
Geography impacts accessibility and cultural context
Ask:
- Are my users global, regional, or local?
- Do I need to consider language, culture, or device preferences?
- Can I test remotely, or do I need in-context (on-site) observations?
- Will time zone or connectivity affect participation?
Helps determine: Remote vs. in-person, moderated vs. unmoderated, translation/localization needs
Explain the fifth dimension when choosing the right UX research method: What is your budget?
Resources influence what’s feasible.
Ask:
- Can I afford paid recruiting, platforms, or travel?
- Do I have tools or services already in place (e.g., analytics, survey tools)?
- Can I do this in-house, or do I need to outsource or hire a partner?
Helps determine: High-cost (e.g., contextual inquiry) vs. low-cost (e.g., surveys, analytics) methods
Explain the sixth dimension when choosing the right UX research method: What is your timeline?
Deadlines often dictate scope and depth.
Ask:
- When are insights needed?
- Can this study run over multiple weeks, or do I need fast answers?
- Is this a one-time study or part of a larger research cycle?
Helps determine: Lean methods (e.g., rapid testing, unmoderated tools) vs. in-depth longitudinal studies
Why is it important to tailor your UX research approach rather than rely on a one-size-fits-all method?
Because effective research is not mass-produced—it’s purpose-built. Every product, audience, and research question requires its own thoughtful approach. Relying on a generic method often leads to results that feel disconnected, irrelevant, or too broad, especially when you’re balancing limited time, resources, and expectations.
