User-Centred
Research Methods
Different research methods reveal different parts of the user experience. The designer’s job is to choose deliberately.
By the end of class, you should be able to…
Identify methods
Explain field research, observation, interviews, surveys, focus groups and task analysis.
Match method to question
Choose a method based on the evidence needed.
Recognize limitations
Explain what each method may miss.
Plan research
Combine methods to understand user, task and environment.
Research turns assumptions into evidence.
A designer should be able to explain why a method was chosen and what type of insight it can generate.
See behaviour
Useful when users may not notice or verbalize what they actually do.
Hear explanations
Interviews, surveys and focus groups reveal experiences, preferences and motivations.
Study the task
Task analysis exposes steps, critical points and opportunities for improvement.
Study use where it actually happens.
Field research places the designer in the real environment so context becomes part of the evidence.
Environment
Space, noise, lighting, weather, nearby people, competing tasks.
Workarounds
What users do because the current design does not fit the task.
Constraints
Time pressure, carrying other objects, access or shared-use conditions.
Watch what users do—not just what they say.
“The lid is fine.”
The user may have adapted to the problem.
Uses teeth to pull the tab.
Behaviour reveals friction the user may not describe spontaneously.
Interviews explore motivations and experiences.
| Question type | Example | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Open | “Walk me through what happens when you use this.” | Rich explanation; unexpected insights. |
| Follow-up | “What makes that step difficult?” | Clarify cause and importance. |
| Specific | “How often does the latch fail?” | Pin down frequency or conditions. |
Interview question quality
You are researching a school locker handle that some students struggle to use.
Which interview question is strongest?
Surveys can reach more users efficiently.
Patterns
How common is a behaviour, preference or difficulty?
Comparisons
Do groups report different priorities or experiences?
Less depth
Short responses may not explain why a problem occurs.
Focus groups reveal reactions and contrasting perspectives.
A facilitator can present a product, scenario or idea and listen to how several users discuss it together.
Ideas can trigger ideas
One user’s comment may prompt another to explain a different experience.
Group influence
Some people may dominate while others follow the group rather than share their own view.
Break a goal into observable steps.
Define the intended goal
Example: refill a bottle at a water station.
Record each action
Remove cap → position bottle → activate water → judge fill → replace cap.
Find critical points
Where do users pause, spill, use extra force, make errors or need assistance?
No single method tells the whole story.
Different methods reveal different evidence. A strong research plan combines methods because user experience has both behavioural and reported dimensions.
What happens?
See sequence, context and pain points.
Why does it matter?
Explore motivation, explanation and priorities.
How widespread is it?
Look for patterns across a broader population.
Which method would you choose first?
Plan a three-method investigation.
Product: a school backpack used by students who carry a laptop, bottle and sports kit.
Research method vocabulary
Retrieve first. Then check.
Can you retrieve it without looking back?
Before you leave…
Research Data for Designers
Keep the evidence chain moving: user → research → decision → test.
A2.1 User-centred research methods · B1.1 UCD · field research · task analysis · user observation · interviews · surveys · focus groups.