We conduct research to gain data about a problem or area of interest. There are many different methods for gaining data, such as interviews, questionnaires, experiments, observations, and content analysis. Deciding which methods to use depends on your resources, the problem that you are researching, your audience, and your preferences.
No matter which methods you choose, it is important to plan and organize research carefully, so you can be sure that you are getting the right data and interpreting it in the right way. The research that we conduct as UX practitioners typically does not need the rigor that more formal research requires. However, we must aim for quality in our research so that our time is not wasted and we gain results that help us create effective designs. Two criteria are often used to judge the quality of research:
- Validity: This is the extent to which the research measures what you want, and not something else. For example, if you ask someone...