Best practices for using and leveraging ChatGPT for UX Research

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader

When I first started using ChatGPT in my UX research projects, I was curious but cautious. Could an AI really help me understand users better? Over time, I discovered practical ways to use ChatGPT that saved me time, sparked new ideas, and improved the quality of my research. If you are a UX researcher looking to enhance your process, this post shares my experience and tips on how to use ChatGPT effectively.

ChatGPT conversation on UX research, image-prompt 'Close-up of laptop screen displaying AI chat interface with UX research questions'

Using ChatGPT to generate research questions and discussion guides

One of the first challenges in UX research is crafting clear, relevant questions. ChatGPT can help you brainstorm and refine these questions quickly. For example, if you want to explore how users interact with a new app feature, you can ask ChatGPT to suggest open-ended questions that encourage detailed responses.

Here’s how I use it:

• Provide context about the product or feature.

• Specify the type of users or personas.

• Ask for questions that avoid leading or biased language.

• Request follow-up questions to dig deeper into user motivations.

  
  

This approach helps me create discussion guides that feel natural and cover important topics without missing key areas.

Analyzing qualitative data with ChatGPT

After conducting interviews or usability tests, analyzing qualitative data can be time-consuming. I found that ChatGPT can assist by summarizing transcripts or highlighting common themes. For example, I paste interview excerpts and ask ChatGPT to identify recurring pain points or user goals.

Keep in mind:

• Use ChatGPT as a starting point, not a final analysis tool.

• Review and validate the AI’s summaries with your own insights.

• Combine ChatGPT’s output with manual coding for accuracy.

  
  

This method speeds up the initial review and helps me spot patterns I might have overlooked.

Creating personas and user journey maps

Building personas and mapping user journeys are essential steps in UX research. ChatGPT can help draft these documents based on user data or descriptions you provide. For instance, after collecting user feedback, I input key traits and behaviors into ChatGPT and ask it to generate a persona profile.

Similarly, I describe the steps a user takes to complete a task and ask ChatGPT to outline a user journey map, including potential pain points and emotions at each stage.

This saves time and provides a solid draft that I can customize further.

UX research notes and user journey map on tablet, image-prompt 'Overhead shot of notebook with handwritten UX notes next to tablet showing user journey visualization'

Avoiding common pitfalls when using ChatGPT in UX research

While ChatGPT is a powerful tool, it’s important to be aware of its limitations:

• It may generate generic or surface-level responses if prompts are vague.

• It cannot replace direct user feedback or real-world testing.

• It might reflect biases present in its training data.

• Confidential or sensitive user data should never be shared with AI tools.

  
  

To get the best results, I always craft specific prompts, cross-check AI-generated content, and treat ChatGPT as a helper rather than a decision-maker.

Integrating ChatGPT into your UX research workflow

Here’s a simple workflow I follow to make the most of ChatGPT:

1. Preparation: Define research goals and gather background information.

2. Question design: Use ChatGPT to draft and refine interview or survey questions.

3. Data collection: Conduct sessions with users as usual.

4. Initial analysis: Paste transcripts or notes into ChatGPT for summaries and theme extraction.

5. Synthesis: Create personas, journey maps, or reports with ChatGPT’s help.

6. Review: Validate all AI-generated content with your expertise and user data.

   
   

This process balances efficiency with quality and keeps the human perspective central.

Final thoughts on using ChatGPT for UX research

ChatGPT is a useful tool that can support many stages of UX research. It helps generate ideas, organize information, and speed up analysis. Still, it does not replace the need for real user interaction and critical thinking.

If you want to try ChatGPT in your research, start small. Use it to draft questions or summarize notes, then build from there. With practice, you’ll find ways to make it a valuable part of your toolkit.

Remember, the goal is to improve how you understand users and design better experiences. ChatGPT can help you get there faster, but your skills and judgment remain essential.