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USER RESEARCH METHODS

USER RESEARCH METHODS

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Research Plan

Research Objectives. Selecting users and research methods.

Before you research the target audience you are designing for, it is important to have a strategy around who you want to talk to or observe, what to ask them and what pieces of information you need to gather.

By planning ahead and tracking who you talk to or observe, you can be sure to have the right balance of experts and laymen, women and men, people of different regions and income classes, as well as a full range of behaviours, beliefs and perspectives. It is best to also include business stakeholders and other secondary users, influencers in your research.

While you can develop several secondary detail documents, it’s best you start with a one page, succinct plan - at this stage you are looking at the basics - pure design insights for your solution - not marketing, finance, resource, partner fluff.

👷 Steps to Build Your Research Plan

A good research plan would include:

4~5 Extreme User Interviews

2~3 Experts Interviews

At least 1 observation study of a mainstream user

At least 1 immersive experience

Balanced secondary and desk research

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Intent and Objectives What your research is on and why it matters.⁠

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Stakeholder Universe Map the stakeholders who can influence the core users.⁠

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User Selection Mainstream and Extreme User Segments⁠

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Research Plan Explore the Research Mix and Methods.⁠

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🔖 SAMPLE ONE-PAGE USER RESEARCH PLAN

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`ARTICLE | User Research Plans - Who cares & how to write one`⁠
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👷 Steps to Build Your Research Plan

🔖 SAMPLE ONE-PAGE USER RESEARCH PLAN

📖 ARTICLE | User Research Plans - Who cares & how to write one

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