Understanding the Seven Key Elements of a UX Research Plan: A Comprehensive Guide || Itsmekriish

 

Seven Elements of a UX Research Plan

Introduction
Welcome everyone! Today, we'll be conducting user experience research sessions to gather valuable insights.
Icebreaker: Share a recent positive experience you had with a digital product.
Session Structure
1. Introduction (5 min): Introduce the research topic and set the context.
2. Task Explanation (10 min): Explain the tasks participants will perform.
3. Task Execution (20 min): Participants perform the assigned tasks.
4. Discussion (15 min): Gather feedback and insights from participants.
5. Closing (5 min): Thank participants and provide any follow-up information.
Discussion Guide
1. What was your initial impression of the product?
2. Were you able to complete the tasks easily?
3. What features did you find most useful?
4. Were there any aspects of the product that were confusing?
5. How likely are you to recommend this product to others?

1. Project Background

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     Definition: Briefly explains what led to the research.
   • Example: “We’re creating a new app to help people find and schedule dog walkers. We need to find out if the main user experience is easy for users to complete.”

2. Research Goals

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     Definition: Identifies the design problems you are trying to solve and how the research results will impact design decisions.
   • Example: “Determine if the dog walker app is difficult to use. We need to understand the ease of use to see why customers join and either leave or stay.”

3. Research Questions

   • 
   • Definition: Specific questions your research aims to answer.
   • Example: “How long does it take a user to find and book a dog walker in the app? What can we learn from the user flow?”

4. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

   • 
     
   • 
   • Definition: Critical measures of progress toward the research go

5. Methodology

   • 
   • Definition: The steps taken to conduct the research, including data collection and analysis methods.
   • Example: “Conduct a survey of prospective users and analyze the results using a spreadsheet to identify trends.”

6. Participants

   • 
   • Definition: The characteristics of the people who will be surveyed or studied

7. Script/Discussion Guide

   • 
   • Definition: The specific questions you will ask study participants.

Insights and Additional Information

• Importance of Avoiding Sample Bias:

  • Selecting participants who represent all users is crucial. The Literary Digest’s 1936 poll failed because it used a biased sample of wealthy individuals, leading to inaccurate predictions.

• Creating a Robust Methodology:

  • Ensure the chosen methodology is aligned with the research goals and KPIs. For instance, if tracking ease of use, both qualitative (e.g., interviews) and quantitative (e.g., surveys) data might be needed.

• Script/Discussion Guide Specificity:

  • The script should directly relate to KPIs and research questions. Detailed and targeted questions help gather relevant data and insights.

Unique Considerations for Your UX Research

When planning a UX research study, particularly for a new app like a dog walker scheduling app, consider the following:

• User Persona Development:

  • Develop detailed user personas based on initial research to better understand your target audience’s needs and behaviors.

• Iterative Testing:

  • Conduct multiple rounds of testing and refinement. Start with low-fidelity prototypes and gradually move to high-fidelity ones based on user feedback.

• Ethnographic Research:

  • Observe users in their natural environment to gain deeper insights into their behaviors and challenges. For a dog walker app, this could involve observing dog owners as they look for and book dog walking services.