User research (UX) is the systematic study of target users and their requirements, to add realistic contexts and insights to design processes. UX researchers adopt various methods to uncover problems and design opportunities. Doing so, they reveal valuable information which can be fed into the design process.
User research gives you a better understanding of what will happen when designing a product that's about to be released in public. It helps you learn about the people you’re building a solution for and increases the likelihood that you’ll create something they love.
Types of User Research
We can also divide User Research method into two: Quantitative Ux Research and Qualitative User Research.
Quantitative Ux Research
This research can be measured numerically. It answers questions such as “how many people clicked here” or “what percentage of users can find the call to action?” It’s valuable in understanding statistical likelihoods and what is happening on a site or in an app. Using more formal methods (e.g., surveys, analytics), you collect measurable data about what consumers do and test qualitative Ux research hypotheses. You may, for example, ask visitors to complete an online poll about their fitness habits (e.g., “How many hours do you work out per week?”). With this data, you can discover patterns among a large user group. You'll have a more statistically reliable way of measuring the population of target consumers if you have a large enough sample of representative test users. Whatever approach you use, a thorough research design will allow you to collect objective data that is unaffected by your presence, personality, or assumptions. Quantitative data, on the other hand, cannot provide deeper human insights on its own.
Qualitative User Research
It is referred to as "soft" research. It provides solutions to questions such as "why didn't individuals notice the call to action?" and "what else did they see on the page?" Qualitative research aids in the understanding of why people act the way they do. You work to gain an in-depth understanding of why consumers do what they do using approaches such as interviews and ethnographic field investigations. You could, for example, conduct user interviews with a small group of users and ask open-ended questions to learn more about their exercise routines. Usability testing UX is another part of qualitative research that is used to track (for example) user stress responses. Qualitative research should be done with caution. There is a possibility that your personal beliefs will impact conclusions because it involves gathering non-numerical data (e.g., thoughts, motivations).
Though researchers may specialize in specific types of interviews or tests, most are capable of conducting a wide variety of techniques. Ux UI design services collect valuable information that helps implement the design in an informed, contextual, and user-centered manner.
Pay attention to what users do, not what they say - Jakob Nielsen
Top User Research Method through the design process
1. Discover Stage
Contextual Interviews: Enables the observation of users in their natural environment, giving you a better understanding of the way users work.
Diary studies: Have users record their daily interactions with a design or log their performance of activities.
Focus groups: Participatory groups that are led through a discussion and activities to gather data on a particular product or service.
2. Explore
Card sorting: Write words and phrases on cards; then let participants organize them in the most meaningful way and label categories to ensure that your design is structured in a logical way. Card Sorting: Allows users to group and sort a site’s information into a logical structure that will typically drive navigation and the site’s information architecture. This helps ensure that the site structure matches the way users think.
Prototyping: This allows the design team to explore ideas before implementing them by creating a mock-up of the site. A prototype can range from a paper mock-up to interactive HTML pages.
Customer journey maps: Create user journeys to expose potential pitfalls and crucial moments.
3. Test
First Click Testing: A navigation-focused testing method that can be used on a live website, a prototype, or a wireframe.
Usability Testing UX:Identifies user frustrations and site problems through one-on-one sessions in which a "real-life" user performs tasks on the site under investigation.
Accessibility evaluations: Test your design to make sure it's user-friendly.
A/B testing: Comparing two different versions of a web page to find which one converts the most visitors. This is a fantastic tool to experiment with button locations, colors, banners, and other UI elements.
4. Listen
Surveys: A survey is a type of research technique that generally consists of a set of questions intended to determine your users' preferences, attitudes, and opinions on a specific topic. Today, most surveys are completed online and come in a variety of durations and forms. Data from surveys is automatically received, and the chosen survey tool usually includes some level of analysis. This data can then be used for user experience studies, later on, to help inform your product.
Analytics: Collect analytics/metrics to chart (e.g.) website traffic and build reports.
User Questionnaires: Users provide feedback when they interact with your product during testing or after launch to assist you to understand the app's features and usability. You can use open-ended questions or multiple-choice questions to get a mix of qualitative and quantitative information, which is often combined with the alternatives mentioned above.
Whichever User research method you choose, you must weigh the benefits and drawbacks of each technique. For example, card sorting is inexpensive and simple, but it can be time-consuming when it comes to analysis. Furthermore, it will not necessarily provide you with in-depth contextual meaning. Another limitation is your financial resources, which will determine when, how much, and what kind of User research you can conduct. As a result, carefully consider the most appropriate method(s) for your research. Also, early on, involve stakeholders from your company. They can help you uncover useful Ux ui design insights and keep your research on track with your business objectives. Remember that User research process is important for UX Audit because it allows to test their assumptions about consumers in the field, reduce the cost of the best deliverables, and maintain their products in high demand—ahead of their competitors. One such UX Audit was done for Redesigning of LIC Website with Heuristics Valuations .Do feel free to connect with us for flexible engagement models within our ux ui design servicesthat can be adjusted to fit your budget and project timelines.
Salient Points
User research is done systematically to gain realistic context and insights into the user behavior so that it can be applied to the design process.
Quantitative Ux Research aims to provide statistics or numerical values to questions.
Qualitative User Research aims to understand the behavior of people, and to capture the thoughts or emotions users feel when presented with a scenario.
Top product design agencies require a lot of planning and execution to deliver top notch ui ux design services. The overall experience the product delivers to its users is an important factor for a business to stay active in this competitive world.