User Research — Methods and Best Practices v1

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Intermediate
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User experience design requires you to understand your users. If you don't know what your users want, you can only deliver what they want by accident. User research is how we come to understand what our users want—it's the largest part of user experience design. This course will give you insights into all the major UX research techniques and how to put them into practice on your projects.

User research is often the first step of a UX design process, because you cannot begin designing a product or service without first understanding what the users want. By gaining skills, and learning about the best practices in user research, you will be able to get first-hand knowledge of your users in order to design the optimal product—one that sells better than your competitors’.

Through this course, you will be introduced to the various aspects of user research, getting exposed to qualitative and quantitative user research methods. On top of that, you will also learn how to analyze the results of your research and confidently present your findings to your clients and stakeholders. User researchers play an instrumental and valuable role in any organization and, as such, receive a healthy remuneration, from an average of $81,000 to as high as more than $120,0001.

What you will learn

  • A high-level overview of what user research is all about
  • How to conduct user research without involving your users
  • What usability tests are, and how to conduct them as a (major) part of your UX research
  • How to reach out to your users and conduct surveys, interviews, and focus groups
  • How to conduct user research across borders effectively—by using global and cross-cultural research techniques
  • How to deal with unmeasurable results of your research and apply qualitative analysis
  • How to put user research into action and apply the insights you have gained
  • How to report and present on user research effectively—to clients, bosses, and other stakeholders

Who should take this course

This is an intermediate-level course suitable for newcomers and experienced practitioners alike:

  • UX designers looking to broaden their UX careers with additional research techniques
  • Project managers who are interested in techniques that enable design teams to develop a greater understanding of users
  • Entrepreneurs interested in building a user-centered product that users will want and purchase
  • Marketers looking to gain a holistic view of customers’ needs and motivations
  • Newcomers to design who are considering making a switch to UX design

Courses in the Interaction Design Foundation are designed to contain comprehensive, evidence-based content, while ensuring that the learning curve is never too steep. All participants will have the opportunity to share ideas, seek help with tests, and enjoy the social aspects afforded by our open and friendly forum.

Learn and work with a global team of designers

When you take part in this course, you will join a global multidisciplinary team working on the course and the exercises at the same time as you. You will work together to improve your skills and understanding. Your course group will be made up of an incredibly diverse group of professionals, all of whom have the same objective—to become successful designers. It’s your chance to learn, grow, and network with your peers across the planet.

1 User Experience Researcher Salary (United States), PayScale

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Is This Course Right for You?

  • You want to land a job in design – or get a promotion.
  • You want to learn real-world design skills that are valuable in any job and any industry.
  • You want timeless human-centered skills AI cannot replace and turn AI into your superpower.
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  • You want actual career outcomes, like increasing your salary potential and job opportunities.
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I'm definitely enjoying this course so far, and looking forward to learning about the other course topics on offer. The website is an incred...

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Natalie Verdon
Natalie Verdon
Facilitator / Consultant

How wonderful.......I am looking forward to all I can learn and share with the community. You have a brilliant site and wonderful offerings.

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Course Overview:

  • Each week, one lesson becomes available.
  • Study flexibly. Take as much time as you want.
  • 15h, 45m over 10 weeks (est.).

Lesson 0: Welcome and Introduction

To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 1 hour, 44 mins.

  • In-depth video lesson with experts, animations and templates. 0.1 An Introduction to Courses from IxDF (33 mins)
  • Multimedia lesson: E.g. templates, animations, illustrations, graphs, and text. 0.2 Get Help, Career Advice, and Job Opportunities (6 mins)
  • In-depth video lesson with experts, animations and templates. 0.3 How to Get Your Course Certificate (20 mins)
  • Community-based learning and networking. 0.4 Grow Your Global Network and Build Your Brand (12 mins)

Lesson 1: An Introduction to User Research for UX

To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 1 hour, 9 mins.

  • Multimedia lesson: E.g. templates, animations, illustrations, graphs, and text. 1.1 Welcome to User Research — Methods and Best Practices (7 mins)
  • Multimedia lesson: E.g. templates, animations, illustrations, graphs, and text. 1.2 Why User Research Matters (11 mins)
  • Multimedia lesson: E.g. templates, animations, illustrations, graphs, and text. 1.3 Types of User Research and User Experience Design Techniques (9 mins)
  • Multimedia lesson: E.g. templates, animations, illustrations, graphs, and text. 1.4 Identifying Stakeholders in UX Projects (38 mins)

Lesson 2: User Research - Without Users

To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 5 hours, 12 mins.

  • Multimedia lesson: E.g. templates, animations, illustrations, graphs, and text. 2.1 Introduction to UX Planning (39 mins)
  • Multimedia lesson: E.g. templates, animations, illustrations, graphs, and text. 2.2 Stakeholder Interviews (38 mins)
  • Multimedia lesson: E.g. templates, animations, illustrations, graphs, and text. 2.3 Coming to a Shared Understanding in Stakeholder Interviews (37 mins)
  • Multimedia lesson: E.g. templates, animations, illustrations, graphs, and text. 2.4 Requirements Capture Workshops (42 mins)

Lesson 3: User Research - Usability Testing

To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 3 hours, 11 mins.

  • Multimedia lesson: E.g. templates, animations, illustrations, graphs, and text. 3.1 Research Planning for User Research (10 mins)
  • Multimedia lesson: E.g. templates, animations, illustrations, graphs, and text. 3.2 Planning User Research the Five Essentials (11 mins)
  • Multimedia lesson: E.g. templates, animations, illustrations, graphs, and text. 3.3 Nano-Usability Testing (7 mins)
  • Multimedia lesson: E.g. templates, animations, illustrations, graphs, and text. 3.4 Conducting Usability Testing (42 mins)

Lesson 4: User Research - Surveys, Interviews and Focus Groups

To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 1 hour, 48 mins.

  • Multimedia lesson: E.g. templates, animations, illustrations, graphs, and text. 4.1 When to Use a Survey (7 mins)
  • In-depth video lesson with experts, animations and templates. 4.2 How to Develop a Survey (29 mins)
  • Multimedia lesson: E.g. templates, animations, illustrations, graphs, and text. 4.3 Tips on Using Surveys (11 mins)
  • Multimedia lesson: E.g. templates, animations, illustrations, graphs, and text. 4.4 Analyzing Survey Data (10 mins)

Lesson 5: User Research - Object Based Research Techniques

To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 35 mins.

  • Multimedia lesson: E.g. templates, animations, illustrations, graphs, and text. 5.1 Object Based Research Techniques (7 mins)
  • Multimedia lesson: E.g. templates, animations, illustrations, graphs, and text. 5.2 Dialogue Based Techniques (Photo Elicitation) (8 mins)
  • Multimedia lesson: E.g. templates, animations, illustrations, graphs, and text. 5.3 Generative Techniques (Collage/Mapping) (10 mins)
  • Multimedia lesson: E.g. templates, animations, illustrations, graphs, and text. 5.4 Associative Techniques (Card Sorting) (8 mins)

Lesson 6: User Research - Global and Cross-Cultural Research Techniques

To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 49 mins.

  • Multimedia lesson: E.g. templates, animations, illustrations, graphs, and text. 6.1 Global vs. Cross-Cultural (8 mins)
  • In-depth video lesson with experts, animations and templates. 6.2 Research Planning for Global and Cross-Cultural Projects (13 mins)
  • Multimedia lesson: E.g. templates, animations, illustrations, graphs, and text. 6.3 Recruitment for Cross-Cultural UX Research (7 mins)
  • Multimedia lesson: E.g. templates, animations, illustrations, graphs, and text. 6.4 Field Research for Cross-Cultural UX Research (11 mins)

Lesson 7: User Research - Qualitative Analysis

To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 36 mins.

  • Multimedia lesson: E.g. templates, animations, illustrations, graphs, and text. 7.1 What is Qualitative Analysis? (12 mins)
  • Multimedia lesson: E.g. templates, animations, illustrations, graphs, and text. 7.2 Coding for Qualitative Analysis (11 mins)
  • Multimedia lesson: E.g. templates, animations, illustrations, graphs, and text. 7.3 Analysis Planning - The Simple and Intensive Models (8 mins)
  • Community-based learning and networking. 7.4 UX and Qualitative Analysis (6 mins)

Lesson 8: Putting User Research into Action

To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 1 hour, 31 mins.

  • Multimedia lesson: E.g. templates, animations, illustrations, graphs, and text. 8.1 Insights into UX Research Deliverables (7 mins)
  • Multimedia lesson: E.g. templates, animations, illustrations, graphs, and text. 8.2 User Personas (41 mins)
  • Multimedia lesson: E.g. templates, animations, illustrations, graphs, and text. 8.3 Situational Representation (8 mins)
  • In-depth video lesson with experts, animations and templates. 8.4 Activity Models (13 mins)

Lesson 9: Reporting on User Research

To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 55 mins.

  • Multimedia lesson: E.g. templates, animations, illustrations, graphs, and text. 9.1 Informal Reports (7 mins)
  • In-depth video lesson with experts, animations and templates. 9.2 Formal Reports (19 mins)
  • Multimedia lesson: E.g. templates, animations, illustrations, graphs, and text. 9.3 Presentations (11 mins)
  • In-depth video lesson with experts, animations and templates. 9.4 Research-Driven Workshops (14 mins)

Lesson 10: IxDF Course Certificate and Course Wrap-up

To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 13 mins.

  • In-depth video lesson with experts, animations and templates. 10.1 How to Add Your IxDF Certificate to LinkedIn (7 mins)
  • Multimedia lesson: E.g. templates, animations, illustrations, graphs, and text. 10.2 Help Us Help You: Course Evaluation (4 mins)
  • Multimedia lesson: E.g. templates, animations, illustrations, graphs, and text. 10.3 Six Steps to Your Career Success (3 mins)
  • Multimedia lesson: E.g. templates, animations, illustrations, graphs, and text. 10.4 Get Your IxDF Course Certificate (2 mins)

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Angela
Angela

I'm definitely enjoying this course so far, and looking forward to learning about the other course topics on offer. The website is an incredible resource - big thanks for making such a treasure trove of information available.

Natalie Verdon
Natalie Verdon
Facilitator / Consultant

How wonderful.......I am looking forward to all I can learn and share with the community. You have a brilliant site and wonderful offerings.

Fernando Martinez Carreon
Fernando Martinez Carreon
Interaction & UX Designer / IA

Well, I've started with one of the courses and felt it was fair to write once again just to say you that you are a great team of human, cognitive and pedagogy centered professionals. I'm really glad that I've become a member and have all of these tons of information for self-paced learning, the content I read it's great so far!