The fourth course in my certification is called “Conduct UX Research and Test Early Concepts.”

Grade: 83.75%

Here are a few highlights and notes from what I learned.

Key Takeaways

Research is a very methodical process. It once again highlights the need for a diverse group of participants in order to get the best possible results. Privacy and security practices are also important to think about ahead of time to respect all participants.

Research Study

A step-by-step examination of a group of users and their needs, which adds realistic context to the design process.

Plan
Research
Synthesize (analyze)
Share

Presentation

Methods
Data
Conclusions
Recommendations

Language and Communication is UX Research

Be equitable
Be inclusive
Be honest
Be neutral
Be a team player

Elements of a UX Research Plan

Project background
Research goals
Questions
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Methodology
Participants
Script

Project Background

Importance

Gets the team on the same page at the beginning of the study
Shows you understand why you’re doing this research
Promotes confidence in the overall quality of your analysis/insights

How to Write A Project Background

Identify the signals that indicated it was necessary
Describe any previous research or solutions
List insights the research will generate

Research Goals

Foundational – help understand why of if you should build the product
Design – understand how to build it
Post-launch – if it works as expected

How to Write Research Questions

Actionable
Specific
Avoid leading questions

Key Performance Indicators

Critical measures of progress towards a goal.

Time on task
Use of navigation vs. search
User error rates
Drop off rates
Conversion rates
System Usability Scale (SUS)

Participants

People selected for the study
Characteristics (have a good reason)
Screener survey
Incentive (includes a way to thank them)
Diver perspectives and abilities

Script

Same for each person
Open-ended
Encourage collaboration
Ask same questions from a different angle
Don’t mention other users
Don’t ask leading questions

Keeping User Data Private

It’s the right thing to do
Privacy laws and ethics
Risk of hacking
Protecting your company’s brand

Privacy & Security Practices

Be transparent about data collection
Only collect essential data
Get active consent
Provide detail of how you’ll use their information and protect their privacy
All users to withdraw
Inform users who will have access to their data
Explain plan to store and delete user’s data

Privacy Concerns

Recording – document study and results to be consistent with UX standards
Storage – make sure data is held to be safe from hacking and damage
Retention – how long we hold onto research data
De-identification – remove identifying information from user’s data
NDA – contract that gives on party legal protection against another stealing their ideas

Moderated Usability Studies

Benefits

Guide participant through study
Ask questions and follow up in real time
Rapport building

Limitations

Moderator could influence or bias users
Less flexible
May not identify with moderator

Unmoderated Usability Studies

Benefits

Use product in the real world
Complete task in their own time and space
More comfortable giving honest feedback

Limitations

No guidance if there are issues
No real-time follow up
No control over environment

Best Practices

Get comfortable
Put people first
Don’t skip the paperwork
Communicate clearly
Ask the right questions

Strong Insights

Frounded in real data
Answers the research questions
Easy to understand
Increase empathy for the user experience

“Fall in love with the problem, not the solution itself.”