UI/UX research encompasses methods to understand user needs, behaviors, and pain points throughout the design process. These are typically categorized by purpose, such as discovery, exploration, testing, and evaluation, or by data type, like qualitative or quantitative. Common types align with design stages from ideation to post-launch.
Primary Categories
Research falls into three types: generative (exploring needs), formative (refining designs), and summative (measuring outcomes). Generative methods uncover problems early, while evaluative ones validate solutions later.
Key Methods by Stage
Discovery/Generative: User interviews, field studies, diary studies, surveys, and stakeholder interviews reveal user motivations and contexts.
Exploration/Formative: Card sorting, tree testing, journey mapping, competitive analysis, and prototype feedback help structure information and test ideas.
Validation/Evaluative: Usability testing, A/B testing, five-second testing, and analytics assess usability and performance across stages.
Qualitative vs Quantitative
Qualitative methods like interviews and usability testing provide deep insights into behaviors. Quantitative ones, such as A/B testing and surveys, offer measurable data for benchmarking
