4 Tips on Planning UX Research

Everyday, we’re looking for answers to tons of questions that are essentially important to our products and services. How to develop effective marketing strategy to a younger audience? How to enhance our product so that users would stick more? Sometimes we think of several potential solutions but don’t know which one to pick. Or sometimes, we simply have no idea what to do. That’s why we need UX research.

When I first started my career as a UX researcher, I thought the key part is “doing” research itself, such as interviewing, publishing surveys and asking questions. However, I soon found out that the most important and challenging part is instead “planning” research. Planning UX research is not just about writing a research plan, but about structuring and framing the whole project before it even starts. Here’s what I’ve learned so far.

1. There’s no such thing as a perfect research plan.

“No battle plan ever survives contact with the enemy. “ — Helmuth von Moltke the Elder

It’s impossible to stick to an original research plan and follow every detail just as planned. Doing UX research is about embracing uncertainty. We’re dealing with humans with our changing product in a constantly changing market. Thus, plan your research…