User Research
1. Definition
Section titled “1. Definition”User research (or UX Research) includes all methods aimed at understanding the behaviors, expectations, motivations, and frustrations of end users.
It is conducted at the beginning of the UX process and allows teams to make decisions based on real data instead of assumptions.
2. Why Conduct User Research?
Section titled “2. Why Conduct User Research?”| ✅ Goals | ✨ Expected Results |
|---|---|
| Understand usage in context | Identify real problems |
| Gather qualitative & quantitative data | Build useful & usable products |
| Validate or invalidate assumptions | Reduce design errors |
| Align teams around the target audience | Save time & money |
3. Key Research Methods
Section titled “3. Key Research Methods”📚 Desk Research
Section titled “📚 Desk Research”- Academic papers, specialized articles, databases
- Tools: Google Scholar, Thèses.fr, PubMed
🕵️♂️ Competitive Analysis
Section titled “🕵️♂️ Competitive Analysis”- Identify competitors
- Study their interfaces, offerings, and gaps
- Spot UX opportunities
✅ Heuristic Evaluation
Section titled “✅ Heuristic Evaluation”- Evaluate interfaces without user involvement
- Methods: Nielsen heuristics, Bastien & Scapin
- Identify weaknesses & areas for improvement
4. Qualitative Studies (Exploratory)
Section titled “4. Qualitative Studies (Exploratory)”| 🧪 Method | 👥 Main Objective |
|---|---|
| One-on-one interviews | Understand behaviors in depth |
| Focus groups | Collect collective opinions & perceptions |
| Contextual observation | Observe users in their real environment |
These methods explore emotion, motivation, personal logic.
5. Quantitative Studies (Statistical)
Section titled “5. Quantitative Studies (Statistical)”- Surveys: via Google Forms, Typeform, etc.
- Analytics: navigation data, heatmaps, click rates
- UX Metrics: bounce rate, drop-off rate, Net Promoter Score (NPS)
Helps confirm or refute hypotheses from qualitative research.
6. Targeting the Right Users
Section titled “6. Targeting the Right Users”- Build a potential user list through brainstorming
- Define realistic personas
- Consider their characteristics:
- Demographics (age, gender, location…)
- Psycho-cognitive (attitudes, habits, impairments…)
- Organizational (industry, work environment)
- Task-related (usage, goals, frequency…)
7. AI Tools & Prompts for Research
Section titled “7. AI Tools & Prompts for Research”- Generate interview scripts
- Organize user feedback
- Analyze customer comments
- Tools: ChatGPT, Copilot, Perplexity, Wevo.ai, Relume…
Important
Always validate AI-generated results!
8. Synthesizing the Research
Section titled “8. Synthesizing the Research”- Empathy Map
- Customer Journey Map
- Personas
- UX Mapping
- 5 Whys Method
- User Stories
The goal: identify a clear problem to solve.
Conclusion
Section titled “Conclusion”User research is not an “optional” step:
It’s the foundation of any solid UX process.
It helps you:
- Better understand your users
- Design relevant solutions
- Lower the risk of failure