Conduct user experience research assignments
Overview
This standard is about conducting User eXperience (UX) research assignments.
User-centred design (UCD) is an iterative design process which focuses on users and their needs to inform the design or redesign of products or services by developing a deep understanding of who will be using the system and how they will interact with it. In UCD, design teams involve users throughout the design process to develop UX insights that inform interaction design and the design of service journeys using inclusive and accessible design methods.
Conducting user research involves planning UX research activities, selecting UX research methods, identifying the number and types of users designing and piloting UX research questions and arranging UX research sessions. This also includes drafting discussion guides and preparing stimulus materials for UX research sessions, developing checklists to guide sessions, leading UX research sessions and capturing feedback.
This standard is for those who need to conduct UX research assignments as part of their duties.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
- Work with stakeholders to agree UX research priorities, objectives and timescales
- Select the UX research discovery methods to capture user feedback in line with organisational requirements
- Plan UX research assignments to identify resource requirements and schedule activities
- Define the criteria for selecting users for UX research discovery sessions
- Identify the number and types of users for the UX use case to inform sample size selection
- Select the sample group of users to undertake UX research discovery sessions
- Design UX research questions to be relevant and actionable for user testing
- Prepare stimulus materials and the products or prototypes to be tested during UX research sessions
- Provide instructions for user testing that are simple and clear to guide user participation
- Pilot user testing research questions and instructions on a test audience to improve levels of user engagement in live tests
- Review UX research questions to incorporate feedback and remove bias in final versions
- Liaise with users to plan UX research sessions
- Lead UX research sessions to engage with users and guide research questioning to gather user feedback 14. Document outcomes and feedback of UX research to meet stakeholder requirements
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
- What is meant by user experience (UX), UX research and user testing
- Why user-centred design is important to organisations and how UX research contributes to it
- Industry standard user testing methods for websites, apps, and prototypes, when to use them and how to apply them correctly
- Who the stakeholders are and their requirements for user testing and UX research outcomes
- How to work with stakeholders to agree UX research goals, priorities and timescales
- How to define the UX problem domain to be solved
- The steps involved in planning UX research assignments and user testing and how to apply them
- Industry standard qualitative and quantitative UX research methods including usability testing, interviewing, questionnaires, pop up research, and card sorting and how to apply them
- The difference between 'moderated' or 'unmoderated' user testing methods
- How to select and align UX research activities to inform decision making and action in user centred design
- Industry standard UX testing tools and platforms and how to use them
- The importance of knowing and agreeing user's expectations
- How to design UX research questions and check for bias
- How to run a pilot session to improve user engagement and effectiveness of UX research sessions
- How to engage effectively with a wide range of users
- The steps involved in leading a UX research session and how to apply them
- The stages of UX research questioning and how to apply them
- How to document the outcomes of UX research