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+# User Research Methods
+
+Comprehensive guide to user research methods for design projects.
+
+---
+
+## Why User Research Matters
+
+**Reduces risk:** Validate assumptions before building
+**Saves time:** Fix issues before development
+**Builds empathy:** Understand users deeply
+**Drives decisions:** Data-informed design choices
+**Increases success:** Solutions that actually work
+
+**Rule:** The cost of fixing a problem increases 10x at each stage (design → development → post-launch)
+
+---
+
+## When to Use Which Method
+
+### Discovery Phase (Understanding)
+**Goal:** Learn about users, their context, and needs
+
+**Methods:**
+- User interviews
+- Contextual inquiry
+- Diary studies
+- Surveys
+- Analytics review
+
+**Questions answered:**
+- Who are our users?
+- What are their goals?
+- What problems do they face?
+- How do they currently solve this?
+
+---
+
+### Exploration Phase (Ideation)
+**Goal:** Generate and evaluate design directions
+
+**Methods:**
+- Co-design workshops
+- Card sorting
+- Concept testing
+- Competitive analysis
+- Design critiques
+
+**Questions answered:**
+- What solutions might work?
+- How should we organize information?
+- What do users expect?
+- What works elsewhere?
+
+---
+
+### Validation Phase (Testing)
+**Goal:** Evaluate specific designs before development
+
+**Methods:**
+- Usability testing
+- Prototype testing
+- A/B testing
+- First-click tests
+- Tree testing
+
+**Questions answered:**
+- Can users complete tasks?
+- Where do they struggle?
+- What works well?
+- Which version performs better?
+
+---
+
+### Measurement Phase (Optimization)
+**Goal:** Understand performance and iterate
+
+**Methods:**
+- Analytics analysis
+- Heatmaps
+- Session recordings
+- Surveys (post-use)
+- A/B testing
+
+**Questions answered:**
+- How are users actually using it?
+- Where do they drop off?
+- What's working vs. not?
+- How can we improve?
+
+---
+
+## Research Methods Guide
+
+### 1. User Interviews
+
+**What:** One-on-one conversations with users
+
+**When to use:**
+- Discovery phase
+- Understanding motivations
+- Complex topics needing depth
+- Building empathy
+
+**Duration:** 30-60 minutes per interview
+
+**Participants:** 5-8 users per user segment
+
+**Format:**
+- Semi-structured (planned questions with flexibility)
+- Open-ended questions
+- Follow-up probes
+
+**Sample questions:**
+- "Tell me about a time when..."
+- "What were you trying to accomplish?"
+- "How did that make you feel?"
+- "What would make this better?"
+
+**Best practices:**
+- Start broad, get specific
+- Ask "why" 5 times
+- Listen more than talk
+- Avoid leading questions
+- Record (with permission)
+
+**Deliverables:**
+- Interview transcripts
+- Key findings summary
+- Quotes and themes
+- User journey maps
+
+---
+
+### 2. Contextual Inquiry
+
+**What:** Observing users in their environment
+
+**When to use:**
+- Understanding workflows
+- Physical context matters
+- Complex processes
+- B2B/enterprise products
+
+**Duration:** 1-3 hours per session
+
+**Participants:** 3-6 users
+
+**Format:**
+- Observe users in natural environment
+- Ask questions as they work
+- Minimal interruption
+- Take photos/notes
+
+**Four principles:**
+1. **Context:** Go to the user's environment
+2. **Partnership:** User and researcher collaborate
+3. **Interpretation:** Develop shared understanding
+4. **Focus:** Guide based on research questions
+
+**Best practices:**
+- Master-apprentice model
+- Think-aloud protocol
+- Photograph artifacts
+- Note workarounds
+- Ask about exceptions
+
+**Deliverables:**
+- Observation notes
+- Photos of workspace/tools
+- Workflow diagrams
+- Pain points and opportunities
+
+---
+
+### 3. Surveys
+
+**What:** Quantitative data from many users
+
+**When to use:**
+- Large sample sizes needed
+- Measuring satisfaction
+- Prioritizing features
+- Demographic data
+
+**Duration:** 5-10 minutes (completion time)
+
+**Participants:** 100+ for statistical significance
+
+**Types of questions:**
+- Multiple choice
+- Likert scales (1-5 rating)
+- Ranking
+- Open-ended (limit to 1-2)
+
+**Best practices:**
+- Keep it short (< 10 questions)
+- One question per page
+- Avoid bias in wording
+- Test before sending
+- Incentivize completion
+
+**Common formats:**
+- NPS (Net Promoter Score)
+- CSAT (Customer Satisfaction)
+- SUS (System Usability Scale)
+- Custom satisfaction surveys
+
+**Deliverables:**
+- Response data
+- Statistical analysis
+- Charts and visualizations
+- Key findings report
+
+---
+
+### 4. Usability Testing
+
+**What:** Users attempt tasks with your design
+
+**When to use:**
+- Validating designs
+- Finding usability issues
+- Comparing design options
+- Pre-launch validation
+
+**Duration:** 45-60 minutes per session
+
+**Participants:** 5 users per user type
+- Nielsen Norman: 5 users find 85% of issues
+
+**Format:**
+1. Introduction
+2. Background questions
+3. Task scenarios (3-5 tasks)
+4. Post-task questions
+5. Debrief
+
+**Task example:**
+"You need to update your credit card information. Show me how you would do that."
+
+**Best practices:**
+- Test with prototype or real product
+- Think-aloud protocol
+- Don't help or lead
+- Note time to completion
+- Record screen + audio
+- Use realistic scenarios
+
+**Metrics to track:**
+- Task success rate
+- Time on task
+- Errors made
+- Satisfaction rating
+
+**Deliverables:**
+- Usability issues (with severity)
+- Task success rates
+- Video highlights
+- Recommendations
+
+---
+
+### 5. A/B Testing
+
+**What:** Compare two versions with real users
+
+**When to use:**
+- Optimizing designs
+- Data-driven decisions
+- High-traffic pages
+- Incremental improvements
+
+**Duration:** 1-4 weeks (until statistical significance)
+
+**Participants:** Varies (need large enough sample)
+
+**Format:**
+- Version A (control)
+- Version B (variant)
+- Randomly assign users
+- Measure conversion
+
+**Statistical requirements:**
+- Sample size calculator
+- 95% confidence level
+- 80% statistical power
+- Account for baseline conversion
+
+**Best practices:**
+- Test one variable at a time
+- Run until statistically significant
+- Consider external factors (holidays, etc.)
+- Don't stop test early
+- Account for novelty effect
+
+**Tools:**
+- Optimizely
+- Google Optimize
+- VWO
+- Custom implementation
+
+**Deliverables:**
+- Winning variant
+- Conversion lift
+- Statistical confidence
+- Implementation recommendation
+
+---
+
+### 6. Card Sorting
+
+**What:** Users organize content into categories
+
+**When to use:**
+- Information architecture
+- Navigation design
+- Taxonomy creation
+- Menu structure
+
+**Duration:** 20-30 minutes per session
+
+**Participants:** 15-30 for reliable patterns
+
+**Types:**
+
+**Open card sort:**
+- Users create their own categories
+- Discovers mental models
+- Use early in design
+
+**Closed card sort:**
+- Users sort into predefined categories
+- Validates existing structure
+- Use later in design
+
+**Format:**
+1. Give users cards with content items
+2. Ask them to group related items
+3. Ask them to name groups
+4. Analyze patterns
+
+**Tools:**
+- Optimal Workshop
+- UserZoom
+- Miro (remote)
+- Physical cards (in-person)
+
+**Deliverables:**
+- Dendrogram (similarity matrix)
+- Common groupings
+- Category names
+- IA recommendations
+
+---
+
+### 7. Tree Testing
+
+**What:** Users find content in text-only hierarchy
+
+**When to use:**
+- Testing information architecture
+- Before visual design
+- Validating navigation
+- After card sorting
+
+**Duration:** 10-15 minutes
+
+**Participants:** 50+ for statistical significance
+
+**Format:**
+1. Present text-only site structure
+2. Give user a task
+3. User clicks through structure
+4. Measure success and path
+
+**Metrics:**
+- Success rate
+- Directness (optimal path?)
+- Time taken
+- First click
+
+**Best practices:**
+- Test before visual design
+- 5-10 tasks
+- Realistic task scenarios
+- Don't test too deep (3-4 levels)
+
+**Tools:**
+- Optimal Workshop
+- Treejack
+- UserZoom
+
+**Deliverables:**
+- Success rates per task
+- Problem areas
+- Recommended structure changes
+- Piecharts showing paths taken
+
+---
+
+### 8. Diary Studies
+
+**What:** Users log experiences over time
+
+**When to use:**
+- Long-term behavior
+- Infrequent events
+- Context switching
+- Habitual use
+
+**Duration:** 3-14 days
+
+**Participants:** 10-20 users
+
+**Format:**
+- Users log entries daily
+- Photo + text entries
+- Structured prompts
+- Follow-up interview
+
+**Prompts example:**
+- "When did you use [product] today?"
+- "What were you trying to do?"
+- "Photo of where you were"
+- "What worked/didn't work?"
+
+**Best practices:**
+- Keep it lightweight
+- Daily reminders
+- Incentivize completion
+- Follow up with interview
+
+**Tools:**
+- dscout
+- Indeemo
+- Custom forms
+- Mobile apps
+
+**Deliverables:**
+- Usage patterns over time
+- Context of use
+- Pain points
+- Opportunity areas
+
+---
+
+### 9. Competitive Analysis
+
+**What:** Evaluate competitor products
+
+**When to use:**
+- Understanding landscape
+- Identifying opportunities
+- Benchmarking
+- Inspiration
+
+**Duration:** 1-2 weeks
+
+**Competitors to analyze:** 3-5 direct + 2-3 indirect
+
+**Framework:**
+1. Identify competitors
+2. Define criteria
+3. Evaluate each
+4. Synthesize findings
+
+**Criteria examples:**
+- Features offered
+- User experience quality
+- Pricing/model
+- Visual design
+- Performance
+- User reviews
+
+**Best practices:**
+- Sign up and use products
+- Complete key tasks
+- Read user reviews
+- Screenshot key flows
+- Note strengths/weaknesses
+
+**Deliverables:**
+- Competitive matrix
+- Feature comparison
+- UX evaluation
+- Screenshots
+- Opportunities
+
+---
+
+### 10. Analytics Review
+
+**What:** Analyze quantitative usage data
+
+**When to use:**
+- Understanding current behavior
+- Identifying issues
+- Measuring impact
+- Continuous improvement
+
+**Data sources:**
+- Google Analytics
+- Product analytics (Mixpanel, Amplitude)
+- Heatmaps (Hotjar, Crazy Egg)
+- Session recordings
+- Error logs
+
+**Key metrics:**
+- Page views
+- Bounce rate
+- Time on page
+- Conversion rate
+- Drop-off points
+- Feature adoption
+
+**Best practices:**
+- Define questions first
+- Look for anomalies
+- Segment users
+- Combine with qualitative
+- Track over time
+
+**Deliverables:**
+- Usage dashboard
+- Key metrics report
+- Problem areas identified
+- Hypotheses for testing
+
+---
+
+## Research Planning
+
+### Research Questions
+
+**Bad questions:**
+- "Do users like this design?"
+- "Is this easy to use?"
+
+**Good questions:**
+- "Can users find the checkout button within 10 seconds?"
+- "What prevents users from completing signup?"
+- "How do users currently manage their projects?"
+
+### Research Plan Template
+
+```markdown
+## Research Plan: [Project Name]
+
+### Background
+[Why we're doing this research]
+
+### Goals
+- [Goal 1]
+- [Goal 2]
+
+### Research Questions
+1. [Question 1]
+2. [Question 2]
+3. [Question 3]
+
+### Method
+[Which research method(s)]
+
+### Participants
+- **Who:** [User segment]
+- **Number:** [How many]
+- **Recruiting:** [Where/how]
+- **Compensation:** [Incentive]
+
+### Timeline
+- Planning: [Dates]
+- Recruiting: [Dates]
+- Sessions: [Dates]
+- Analysis: [Dates]
+- Reporting: [Dates]
+
+### Deliverables
+- [Deliverable 1]
+- [Deliverable 2]
+
+### Team
+- Researcher: [Name]
+- Designer: [Name]
+- Note-taker: [Name]
+```
+
+---
+
+## Recruiting Participants
+
+### Screening Criteria
+
+**Example screener questions:**
+
+```markdown
+1. How often do you [relevant behavior]?
+   - Daily (CONTINUE)
+   - Weekly (CONTINUE)
+   - Monthly (TERMINATE)
+   - Never (TERMINATE)
+
+2. What tools do you currently use for [task]?
+   - [Competitor A] (CONTINUE)
+   - [Competitor B] (CONTINUE)
+   - Other: _____ (CONTINUE)
+   - None (TERMINATE)
+
+3. What is your role?
+   - [Target role] (CONTINUE)
+   - Other (TERMINATE)
+```
+
+### Recruiting Sources
+
+**Internal:**
+- Customer database
+- Email campaigns
+- In-app recruitment
+- Support ticket users
+
+**External:**
+- User Interviews (platform)
+- Respondent.io
+- Ethnio
+- Craigslist (with screening)
+- Social media
+
+### Incentives
+
+**Typical rates:**
+- 30 min interview: $50-75
+- 60 min interview: $75-125
+- 90 min session: $100-200
+- B2B participants: $150-300
+- Executives: $300-500
+
+---
+
+## Conducting Research
+
+### Interview Guide Template
+
+```markdown
+## [Project] Interview Guide
+
+**Duration:** 60 minutes
+
+### Introduction (5 min)
+- Thank you for joining
+- Recording with permission
+- No right/wrong answers
+- Can stop anytime
+- Questions before we start?
+
+### Warm-up (5 min)
+- Tell me about your role
+- Typical day at work
+- [Relevant context questions]
+
+### Main Questions (40 min)
+
+**Section 1: Current Behavior**
+- Walk me through how you [task]
+- What tools do you use?
+- What works well?
+- What's frustrating?
+
+**Section 2: [Topic]**
+- [Questions]
+
+**Section 3: [Topic]**
+- [Questions]
+
+### Concept Test (if applicable) (10 min)
+- Show prototype/mockup
+- What do you see here?
+- What would you do first?
+- What questions do you have?
+
+### Wrap-up (5 min)
+- Anything we didn't cover?
+- Final thoughts?
+- Thank you + compensation
+```
+
+### Facilitation Best Practices
+
+**DO:**
+- ✅ Build rapport first
+- ✅ Ask open-ended questions
+- ✅ Probe deeper ("Tell me more...")
+- ✅ Embrace silence
+- ✅ Stay neutral
+- ✅ Take notes (or have note-taker)
+
+**DON'T:**
+- ❌ Lead the witness
+- ❌ Explain your design
+- ❌ Defend your choices
+- ❌ Ask yes/no questions
+- ❌ Put words in their mouth
+- ❌ Multi-part questions
+
+---
+
+## Analyzing Research
+
+### Affinity Mapping
+
+**Process:**
+1. Write observations on sticky notes
+2. Group related notes
+3. Name themes
+4. Identify patterns
+5. Prioritize insights
+
+**Tools:**
+- Miro
+- Mural
+- FigJam
+- Physical wall + stickies
+
+### Finding Themes
+
+**Look for:**
+- Repeated phrases
+- Common pain points
+- Similar behaviors
+- Workarounds
+- Strong emotions
+
+**Quotes to capture:**
+- Memorable phrases
+- Representative of theme
+- Emotionally resonant
+- Actionable insights
+
+### Prioritizing Insights
+
+**Framework:**
+- **Frequency:** How many users mentioned it?
+- **Severity:** How big a problem is it?
+- **Impact:** How much would solving it help?
+
+**Priority Matrix:**
+```
+High Impact, High Frequency → P0 (Must fix)
+High Impact, Low Frequency → P1 (Should fix)
+Low Impact, High Frequency → P2 (Nice to fix)
+Low Impact, Low Frequency → P3 (Maybe later)
+```
+
+---
+
+## Research Deliverables
+
+### 1. Research Report
+
+**Structure:**
+```markdown
+# [Project] Research Report
+
+## Executive Summary
+- Key findings (3-5 bullets)
+- Recommendations (3-5 bullets)
+
+## Background
+- Research questions
+- Methods
+- Participants
+
+## Findings
+### Theme 1: [Name]
+- Finding
+- Evidence (quotes, data)
+- Implications
+
+### Theme 2: [Name]
+[Repeat]
+
+## Recommendations
+1. [Action item with priority]
+2. [Action item with priority]
+
+## Next Steps
+- [What comes next]
+
+## Appendix
+- Full transcripts
+- Detailed data
+```
+
+### 2. User Personas
+
+**Components:**
+- Name and photo
+- Demographics
+- Goals
+- Frustrations
+- Behaviors
+- Quote
+- Scenario
+
+**Keep it:**
+- Based on research
+- Focused on behaviors
+- Referenced in decisions
+- Updated regularly
+
+### 3. Journey Maps
+
+**Components:**
+- Stages of experience
+- User actions
+- Thoughts and feelings
+- Pain points
+- Opportunities
+
+**Format:**
+- Timeline across top
+- Emotional curve
+- Touchpoints
+- Behind-the-scenes actions
+
+---
+
+## Research Ethics
+
+### Informed Consent
+
+**Must include:**
+- Purpose of research
+- What you'll do with data
+- Recording disclosure
+- Right to stop anytime
+- How data will be stored
+- Contact information
+
+### Privacy & Data
+
+**Best practices:**
+- De-identify data
+- Secure storage
+- Limited access
+- Retention policy
+- GDPR/privacy compliance
+- Don't share recordings externally
+
+### Participant Wellbeing
+
+**Considerations:**
+- Don't cause distress
+- Allow breaks
+- Respect "I don't know"
+- Compensate fairly
+- Follow through on promises
+
+---
+
+## Research Checklist for Design Briefs
+
+- [ ] **Research questions** defined
+- [ ] **Methods** selected and justified
+- [ ] **Participants** criteria specified
+- [ ] **Sample size** determined
+- [ ] **Timeline** planned
+- [ ] **Recruiting** strategy defined
+- [ ] **Incentives** budgeted
+- [ ] **Interview guide** created
+- [ ] **Consent form** prepared
+- [ ] **Analysis plan** defined
+- [ ] **Deliverables** specified
+- [ ] **Stakeholder** review scheduled
+
+---
+
+## Resources
+
+### Books
+- "Just Enough Research" - Erika Hall
+- "The User Experience Team of One" - Leah Buley
+- "Interviewing Users" - Steve Portigal
+- "Observing the User Experience" - Goodman, Kuniavsky, Moed
+
+### Tools
+- **Recruiting:** User Interviews, Respondent
+- **Remote testing:** UserTesting, Lookback, Maze
+- **Surveys:** Typeform, Google Forms, Qualtrics
+- **Analysis:** Dovetail, Airtable, Notion
+- **Card sorting:** Optimal Workshop, UserZoom
+
+### Templates
+- [Research Plan Template](https://www.nngroup.com/articles/ux-research-cheat-sheet/)
+- [Interview Guide Template](https://userinterviews.com/blog/interview-guide-template)
+- [Usability Test Plan](https://www.usability.gov/how-to-and-tools/resources/templates.html)
+
+---
+
+## Quick Reference
+
+### Research Method Selection
+
+| Need | Method | Participants | Duration |
+|------|--------|--------------|----------|
+| Understand users | Interviews | 5-8 | 30-60 min |
+| Observe context | Contextual inquiry | 3-6 | 1-3 hours |
+| Large sample | Survey | 100+ | 5-10 min |
+| Test usability | Usability test | 5 | 45-60 min |
+| Compare options | A/B test | 1000+ | 1-4 weeks |
+| Organize content | Card sorting | 15-30 | 20-30 min |
+| Test IA | Tree testing | 50+ | 10-15 min |
+| Long-term use | Diary study | 10-20 | 3-14 days |
+| Competitor insight | Competitive analysis | N/A | 1-2 weeks |
+| Usage patterns | Analytics | N/A | Ongoing |
+
+---
+
+**Remember:** Research is not a phase, it's a practice. Build it into every project.