How to Get Into UX Research: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

Philip Burgess
Aug 17
3 min read

Updated: Oct 26

By Philip Burgess - UX Research Leader

UX Research (UXR) is one of the fastest-growing fields in design and technology. As businesses strive to deliver seamless user experiences, researchers play a crucial role in uncovering user needs, behaviors, and motivations. If you’ve ever been curious about how people interact with products—or you’ve wanted to make technology more intuitive—UX Research might be the perfect career path.

But where do you start? Here’s a clear roadmap for breaking into UX Research, even if you’re new to the field.

1. Understand What UX Research Is

At its core, UX Research is about studying people to improve products. Researchers use a mix of qualitative methods (like interviews, usability testing, and diary studies) and quantitative methods (like surveys, analytics, and A/B testing) to answer questions such as:

Can users complete key tasks easily?
Where do users struggle?
What do people really need from this product?

By connecting insights to design and business goals, UX researchers ensure products are useful, usable, and delightful.

2. Build Foundational Skills

You don’t need a specific degree to start, but you do need a blend of research and communication skills. Key areas to focus on include:

Research Methods – Learn usability testing, surveys, contextual inquiry, card sorting, and A/B testing.
Data Analysis – Understand how to interpret qualitative patterns and quantitative metrics.
Communication – Hone your ability to present insights clearly and persuasively.
Collaboration – UX research is highly cross-functional; you’ll work closely with designers, product managers, and engineers.

Tip: Psychology, sociology, anthropology, or human-computer interaction (HCI) backgrounds translate well into UX research—but they’re not mandatory.

3. Learn the Tools of the Trade

UX Researchers rely on a variety of tools to conduct and analyze studies. A few worth getting familiar with:

Survey & Feedback Tools: Google Forms, Typeform, Qualtrics
Usability Testing Platforms: Maze, UserTesting, Lookback, Optimal Workshop
Analytics Tools: Google Analytics, Hotjar, FullStory
Collaboration Tools: Figma, Miro, Notion, Dovetail (for research repositories)

Even basic knowledge of these tools will make you more marketable when applying for internships or entry-level roles.

4. Get Hands-On Experience

The best way to learn UX research is by doing it. Try:

Volunteer Projects – Offer to run usability tests for a nonprofit or a friend’s business.
Personal Projects – Pick an app or website you use often and conduct a small usability study.
Hackathons or Bootcamps – Many design sprints welcome researchers to validate ideas quickly.
Portfolio Building – Document your research process, not just the results. Recruiters want to see how you approached a problem, the methods you used, and what you learned.

5. Build a Portfolio That Tells a Story

Unlike designers, UX researchers don’t showcase polished visuals. Instead, your portfolio should include:

Research question(s)
Method(s) used
Participant details (anonymized)
Key findings
Recommendations and impact

Employers want to see your thinking process—not just raw data.

6. Network and Learn from Others

Breaking into UX Research can be competitive, but networking helps tremendously.

Join communities like UX Research Collective, NN/g (Nielsen Norman Group) events, or Slack groups for researchers.
Attend conferences like UXPA International, CHI, or local UX meetups.
Follow thought leaders on LinkedIn and Medium to stay up to date with best practices.

7. Start with Entry Points

Many UX researchers begin in related roles before transitioning. Common entry points include:

UX Design – Running usability tests and research as part of design work.
Product or Marketing Research – Leveraging transferable skills in surveys and analytics.
Customer Support or QA – Deep exposure to user pain points and product behavior.
Internships & Research Assistant Roles – Valuable for hands-on learning under senior researchers.

8. Keep Growing with Best Practices

UX Research is constantly evolving. To stay relevant:

Stay curious—always ask why.
Pair quantitative and qualitative methods for richer insights.
Learn to connect research findings directly to business and design outcomes.
Practice storytelling—research is only impactful if others understand and act on it.

Final Thoughts

Getting into UX Research is less about having the perfect degree and more about developing empathy, curiosity, and rigor in your approach to problem-solving. Start small, practice often, and build a portfolio that showcases how you turn insights into action.

Remember: every digital product needs a voice for its users. By entering the field of UX Research, you’re not just starting a career—you’re becoming that voice.

Philip Burgess | philipburgess.net | phil@philipburgess.net