9 UX research methods you should know | Maze

Summary

In this video, Hilary, the Education Lead at Maze, introduces the top nine UX research methods to help designers and researchers understand user behavior and improve product experiences. The methods discussed include user interviews, field studies, card sorting, tree testing, usability testing, diary research, surveys, focus groups, and five-second testing. Each method serves different purposes depending on the project stage and research goals. The video highlights the importance of selecting the right method to gather actionable insights and enhance user experience, offering further resources for deeper exploration.

Takeaways

• 😀 UX research methods help generate insights about users, their behavior, and needs to improve product experiences.
• 💬 User interviews provide qualitative insights by delving into user pain points, opinions, and feelings, allowing researchers to adapt in real time.
• 🏞️ Field studies take place in the user's natural environment, offering a deeper understanding of how a product is used in real-world settings.
• 🃏 Card sorting helps uncover users' mental models by organizing content and is useful for designing information architecture.
• 🌳 Tree testing assesses usability and findability by navigating text-only versions of information architecture to test content structure.
• 🧪 Usability testing is essential to evaluate a product’s intuitiveness and identify any issues or bugs through task-based user testing.
• 📔 Diary studies provide long-term, real-time insights as participants self-report their thoughts and behaviors over an extended period.
• 📊 Surveys are a versatile method for gathering both quantitative and qualitative data from a wide pool of users remotely.
• 👥 Focus groups involve moderated discussions with a small group to gather feedback on specific features or product concepts.
• ⏳ Five-second testing measures first impressions by showing participants a design briefly to gauge the immediate impact and clarity of messaging.

Q & A

What is the primary goal of UX research according to the video?

The primary goal of UX research is to identify challenges and opportunities for improvement within a product's user experience, by gathering insights about users, their behavior, and their needs.

Why are user interviews considered a go-to technique for UX researchers?

User interviews allow researchers to gather in-depth qualitative data by exploring users' pain points, opinions, and feelings. They are flexible and allow interviewers to adapt questions based on user responses in real-time, leading to richer insights.

When might a field study be more appropriate than other UX research methods?

A field study is ideal when context is crucial, such as when testing a product in its natural environment. For example, if you're developing software for doctors, it's important to see how it operates in a real hospital setting.

What is the key advantage of using card sorting in UX research?

Card sorting helps researchers understand users' mental models and how they group or organize information. This makes it useful for improving information architecture, content categorization, and naming conventions.

How do tree testing and card sorting complement each other in UX research?

Tree testing assesses how users navigate a text-only version of a product's information architecture, while card sorting helps define and structure it. Tree testing helps review usability, and card sorting helps organize content. Both methods can be used at different stages of product development.

What is the main goal of usability testing?

The main goal of usability testing is to determine whether a product is intuitive and easy to use. It helps identify issues, bugs, or areas for improvement in the user experience.

What insights can diary research provide?

Diary research offers real-time, organic insights into how users interact with a product over an extended period. Participants record their thoughts, behaviors, and feelings, providing valuable context around how products fit into their daily lives.

What are the benefits of using surveys in UX research?

Surveys are versatile and can collect both qualitative and quantitative data. They are relatively simple and inexpensive to administer and can be conducted remotely, allowing for a larger participant pool.

In what situations are focus groups typically used in UX research?

Focus groups are often used in market research to gather user opinions, beliefs, and feedback on products or concepts. They are useful when researching how users perceive new features or concepts for existing or new products.

What is the purpose of five-second testing, and when might you use it?

Five-second testing helps gauge users' first impressions of a design or webpage by showing it for five seconds and asking for feedback. It is useful for assessing the clarity and effectiveness of messaging and design, particularly during early development or branding efforts.