User researcher job

Incredible customer experiences are something that companies like Google, Airbnb, and Amazon all have in common (also known as UX). Their primary websites are uncomplicated and simple to use, and many people (including Joe Gebbia, co-founder of Airbnb), credit the success of these "startup unicorns" to good UX design. Their websites are clear and simple to navigate.

Both user experience designers and user experience researchers are included on CNNMoney's list of the 100 Best Jobs in America for 2017. The rating was determined by looking at factors such as growth rate, compensation, and overall work satisfaction. User experience researchers came in at number 39 on the list, with an annual median pay of $106,000 and an expected 19 percent rise in employment opportunities over the next ten years. The typical yearly compensation for user experience designers was $85,900, and it was anticipated that there would be a 13% increase in demand for their services over the next ten years.

What sets a user experience researcher from from a user experience designer, exactly?

To begin, let's take a step back. The word "user experience," or UX, refers to "the experience a user has when engaging with a product," while "user experience design," or UX design, refers to "the process through which a designer tries to identify what that experience will be."

The goal of a user experience designer (UX designer) should be to create websites, applications, and other forms of technology that are as simple and straightforward to use as is humanly feasible. In order for them to do this, companies need to have an in-depth understanding of their target market, including what it is that consumers desire, what drives them, and what frustrates them. A user experience researcher is necessary at this point.

Who Is a UX Researcher and What Do They Do?

Researchers that focus on user experience are similar to data scientists in that, rather than making educated guesses about what a customer would want, they examine real customer behavior and provide data-driven insights to meet the requirements of customers. UX researchers replace speculation with educated insights and then collaborate with UX designers, developers, and product managers to transform these insights into solutions that are practical, consumer-centric, and connect with the audience. UX researchers are responsible for eliminating guesswork.

In response to a question on the distinction between a UX researcher and a UX designer, researcher George Kalyvas said that those in his job "should be able to perform in-depth and sophisticated research both in qualitative and quantitative methodologies." It is essential that you be able to comprehend the purpose of the study as well as the kind of research, or the mix of research methods, that you will use.

According to his resume, his key tasks include "creating, performing, evaluating, and reporting on user-centered design research and usability testing." The primary duties that fall within my purview are the determination of user objectives and goals, the modeling of tasks and workflows, unmoderated usability testing, and more formal, in-depth testing. In addition to this, I do usability research both online and in the field, and then I provide suggestions for how to make things better.

According to Kalyvas, the primary distinction between a UX researcher and a UX designer is that a UX researcher's job is "to conduct research and build up the scope of the study according to the research goals." A UX designer, on the other hand, is responsible for designing the user interface. The application of design is the result of the study that was done... It is required of the UX designer to create in accordance with established standards, all the while bearing in mind the mental models of the target audience.

The following is a summary of the major tasks of an entry-level UX researcher, as provided by the recruitment program called TalentLyft, which offers templates for job descriptions:

Research on users and intellectual property development are under your management.

Do some research on the customer personas, and look at buying behavior.

Users should be led through the whole process of suggesting, wireframing, and implementing user experience enhancements.

Collaborate closely with the sales and product management teams in order to identify potential areas of investigation.

Collaborate on a large scale with different departments such as design, product management, content strategy, engineering, and marketing.

Take part in user research activities relating to the recruitment of participants

Develop and put into action a comprehensive plan for the user research strategy and methodology.

What Types of Skills Are Necessary to Become a User Experience Researcher?

According to UX Planet, if you're curious about how to get started in the field of user experience research, it's beneficial to have a background in a relevant field such as marketing, cognitive science, psychology, economics, or information science. This is especially true if you're wondering how to break into the field.

You will need to have an analytical mind and be able to interpret data, but in addition to that, you will need to have strong people skills since you will need to be able to read other people. As a UX researcher, you will work closely with not just UI designers and UX designers, but also engineers, product managers, and project managers. Therefore, you will need to be able to collaborate well and know how to work well with people of all different sorts. In the end, but certainly not least, it is very necessary to have an awareness of the whole design process.

According to TalentLyft's recommendations, an entry-level UX researcher should meet the following qualifications and specifications:

BA/BS degree

Some prior experience working as a UX research professional or in a capacity that is comparable

Confidence in rapidly launching and iterating while making use of data

comprehensive knowledge of user interface design

Conducting user research and having experience in doing so

Knowledge and experience with qualitative and user-centered design techniques

A solid grounding in quantitative methods, behavioral research, and statistical analysis

Skills in both critical thinking and problem solving are required.

Member of the team

Good time-management skills

Excellent people-to-people and verbal communication capabilities

What Exactly Does a User Experience Researcher Do?

Researchers that focus on user experience use a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods. Research that is quantitative can be measured, whereas qualitative research cannot. Quantitative research includes questions like "how many visitors visited your webpage," while qualitative research includes questions like "why 500 individuals abandoned their baskets at checkout."

Techniques for user experience research often adhere to one of these three primary methodologies:

UX researchers watch individuals using a product and seek for behavioral (i.e., unspoken) signals to determine what a person thinks of a product. Observation is the first step in the user experience design process. Is it simple for them to make use of? Did the user's actions represent what the user experience designer wanted the user to do?

The goal of user experience (UX) researchers is to comprehend the "mental model" of end users. A mental model is "what people know (or believe they know) about a system such as your website," as defined by Nielsen Norman Group. When someone sees a website, they behave in accordance with the mental model they bring with them. If they click the symbol that looks like a magnifying glass, they anticipate that it will launch a fresh search. If they click on your company logo, they anticipate that it will take them to the homepage of the website. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that the design of a product be perfectly linked with the mental model of a customer.

Analysis: UX researchers need to not only be able to observe and comprehend the behavior of customers, but they also need to have the ability to interpret that behavior. They need to do an analysis of their results in order to identify patterns and trends, which they must then communicate to the UX design team in a manner that is easily understandable.

The following is a list of common research techniques used by UX researchers:

In-Person Interviews: These may be one-on-one or conducted via focus groups that are formed of many individuals. The user experience researcher may either just participate in conversation with the participants, pose particular questions to them, or conduct an ethnographic interview in which they are observed in their natural environments to determine how the participants interact with a website or product.

User Questionnaires Researchers may send online surveys to a specific set of people in order to get insight into their perspectives on a product. The absence of any behavioral signals is a drawback of this method, despite the fact that it is an efficient technique of generating a large number of replies. Due to the fact that a researcher is unable to visually see her subject, she is unable to make observations that may be made via a survey.

Tests of Usability: Researchers might distribute prototypes to a target audience in order to see how that audience engages with the prototypes. This may be done in person or online, and the individual being tested is encouraged to communicate through their thinking process while they traverse the product or site being tested. This is an excellent method for determining whether or not the mental model of a consumer corresponds with the real design.

A Guide to a Career in User Experience Research

Research on user experience (UX) is a relatively young yet rapidly expanding area. It is not necessary to have a formal degree in order to work as a UX researcher; nonetheless, you should have prior experience working with technology and an awareness of how people behave. The fields of psychology, anthropology, sociology, marketing and communications, and information science are among the most common educational foundations; nevertheless, this list is not exhaustive.

If you're curious about how to get started in user experience research, the first thing you should do is read as much as you can. Self-education is the primary mode of education for 65 percent of user experience (UX) designers and a good number of UX researchers as well. The following publications are highly recommended by User Testing, a company that assists businesses in obtaining feedback on their websites, applications, and prototypes.

Just the Right Amount of Research

A guide for practitioners on how to do user research and observe the user experience

User Experience Research and Design That Is More Efficient and Effective, Tailored Specifically for Lean Startups

The Quantification of the User Experience: Statistical Methods Applied to User Research

Podcasts like UXPod, Boxes and Arrows, and UIE Brain Sparks are all excellent resources.

Try talking to individuals who work in the area of user experience research after you have a solid idea of what it takes to be a UX researcher. Building professional relationships is one of the most effective strategies to get a new job.

If you are currently working and your firm has a UX research team, you should ask if you may have a conversation with them. Inquire about the possibility of attending one of their moderated seminars and taking notes on the discussion.

Talk to the people in your company's UX design team, market research team, or marketing team if your business doesn't have a dedicated UX research team. Inquire about the possibility of working with them on a forthcoming research project. You might also talk about volunteering opportunities with local institutions by contacting those that undertake study on user experience (UX) or applied research. Comparable to an internship, observing a user experience researcher or donating your time to assist them are both excellent ways to get relevant experience that can be included in your resume and presented to potential employers.

Last but not least, have a look at the User Experience Research Professionals Association website to see whether or not there are any forthcoming events that you may be interested in attending.

A Few Parting Thoughts

The user experience (UX) industry is expanding and becoming more profitable. A user experience researcher concentrates on the desires and requirements of consumers, in contrast to a user experience designer, who is primarily concerned with the end product that will be presented to users.

Researchers that study user experience (UX) use three primary research methods: observation, understanding, and analysis. These may be accomplished via in-person or online interviews, surveys, or usability testing.

A good grasp of analytics and the design process as a whole is essential for a UX researcher, but they also require soft skills such as the capacity to adapt, an awareness of human behaviors, and a desire to cooperate.

Because there is no such thing as a degree in UX research, the best approach to get into the area is to completely immerse yourself in it. Build a portfolio that you can later show to potential employers by doing things like reading as much as you can on the subject, networking with individuals already working in the industry, and either shadowing someone on a project or volunteering on one.