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Many businesses are rooted in creating desirable products and services for users, but fail to consider the consumer. How can they create products and services that work for users? This book has the answers.
User experience research, (UX research) focuses on understanding user behaviours, needs and motivations through a range of observational techniques, task analysis and other methodologies. User Research is a practical guide that shows mid-career professionals and academic readers how to use the vast array of user research methods available. Written by Stephanie Marsh, one of the UK's leading UX research professionals, readers can benefit from in-depth knowledge that explores the fundamentals of user research.
Covering all the key research methods including face-to-face user testing, card sorting, surveys and many more, the book gives expert insight into the nuances, advantages and disadvantages of each. While also providing guidance on how to interpret, analyze and share the data once it has been obtained. Now in its third edition, User Research provides new insight into how to incorporate cross-functional collaboration when approaching user research, how to navigate the ever-changing world of GDPR as AI enters the research space and a pathway to founding their products and services with the understanding of consumer behaviour.
List of contents
Chapter - 01: Introduction: why is user research so important? Section - ONE: The fundamentals: what good research looks likes Chapter - 02: Planning your research Chapter - 03: Best practice in user research: who, what, why and how Chapter - 04: Managing user research Chapter - 05: Getting the legal and ethical stuff right Chapter - 06: Cross functional collaboration for impactful research Section - TWO: Selecting and using user research methods Chapter - 07: Usability testing: observing people doing specific things Chapter - 08: User interviews: understanding people's experience through talking to them Chapter - 09: Getting the best out of stakeholder workshops Chapter - 10: Content testing: what do people think your content means? Chapter - 11: Card sorting: understand how people group and relate things Chapter - 12: Information architecture validation through tree testing: does the structure of your information work for your users? Chapter - 13: Surveys: how to gauge a widespread user response Chapter - 14: Diary studies: how to capture user research data over time Chapter - 15: Contextual inquiry: interviewing people in their own environment Chapter - 16: Ethnography: observing how people behave in the real world Chapter - 17: Pop-up research: running fast-paced research in the real world Chapter - 18: How to combine user research methodologies Section - THREE: Analysing user research data Chapter - 19: Content analysis: understanding your qualitative data Chapter - 20: Identifying themes through affinity diagramming Chapter - 21: Thematic analysis: going beyond initial analysis Chapter - 22: Agile analysis Chapter - 23: Analysing usability data and cataloguing issues and needs Chapter - 24: Analysing data to create personas to communicate user characteristics and behaviour Chapter - 25: Analysing data to create mental models: visualising how user think and identify opportunities Chapter - 26: Turning findings into insights Section - FOUR: Storytelling: communicating your findings and insights Chapter - 27: Making recommendation: how to make your research findings actionable Chapter - 28: Creating executive summaries and detailed reports to present results Chapter - 29: Using video playback to present your research results Chapter - 30: Using journey and experience maps to visualize user research data Chapter - 31: Using scenarios and storyboards to represent the user journey Chapter - 32: Using infographics to translate numerical and statistical data Chapter - 33: Conclusion
About the author
Stephanie Marsh (she/they) is a leading expert in UX Research and UX Research Operations based in the UK. As the former Head of User Research and Analysis at the UK Government Digital Service and Head of Digital at the UK Ministry of Defence, they have played a pivotal role in advancing digital innovation within the public sector. Previously a Bunnyfoot consultant , one of the UK's leading UX consultancies, Stephanie has applied their expertise to enhance user experiences across diverse industries. As a respected thought leader, she has contributed to peer-reviewed publications and shared insights through speaking engagements at conferences and industry events.
