The Ultimate Guide to UX Research Methodologies: How and When to Use Them

By Philip Burgess – UX Research Leader

UX research is the backbone of user-centered design. It helps teams understand user behaviors, needs, and motivations through observation and feedback. But with so many methodologies available, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. This guide breaks down the most common UX research methods and shows how and when to use each.

UX Research Methodologies

1. User Interviews

• What: One-on-one conversations to explore user attitudes, motivations, and experiences.

• How: Semi-structured or open-ended questions.

• When: Early in the design process to uncover needs and validate assumptions.

2. Surveys & Questionnaires

• What: Structured questions distributed to a large group.

• How: Online tools like Google Forms, Typeform, or Qualtrics.

• When: To gather quantitative data at scale or validate qualitative findings.

3. Usability Testing

• What: Observing users as they interact with a product to identify usability issues.

• How: Moderated or unmoderated sessions; remote or in-person.

• When: During prototyping or post-launch to refine design.

4. Card Sorting

• What: Users organize topics into categories to inform information architecture.

• How: Open, closed, or hybrid sorting using tools like OptimalSort.

• When: Before designing navigation or site structure.

5. Tree Testing

• What: Tests the findability of topics in a site’s hierarchy.

• How: Users complete tasks using a simplified site structure.

• When: After card sorting, before full design implementation.

6. A/B Testing

• What: Comparing two versions of a design to see which performs better.

• How: Randomly assign users to different variants and measure outcomes.

• When: Post-launch or during optimization phases.

7. Field Studies

• What: Observing users in their natural environment.

• How: Ethnographic techniques, shadowing, contextual inquiry.

• When: To understand real-world usage and context.

8. Diary Studies

• What: Users self-report experiences over time.

• How: Journals, apps, or surveys over days/weeks.

• When: To capture long-term behaviors and emotional responses.

9. Analytics Review

• What: Analyzing behavioral data from tools like Google Analytics or Hotjar.

• How: Track metrics like bounce rate, click paths, and conversion.

• When: To identify patterns and validate usability issues.

10. Focus Groups

• What: Group discussions to explore attitudes and reactions.

• How: Facilitated sessions with 5–10 participants.

• When: To gather diverse opinions or test messaging.

Comparison Table: How & When to Use UX Research Methods

Method	Type	Data Collected	Best For	When to Use
User Interviews	Qualitative	Attitudes, emotions	Deep insights, early discovery	Early stages, exploratory
Surveys	Quantitative	Opinions, ratings	Broad validation, segmentation	Mid to late stages
Usability Testing	Mixed	Behavior, feedback	Identifying usability issues	Design iteration, post-launch
Card Sorting	Qualitative	Categorization	Information architecture	Before navigation design
Tree Testing	Quantitative	Task success	Navigation validation	After IA design, pre-launch
A/B Testing	Quantitative	Performance metrics	Optimization, conversion	Post-launch
Field Studies	Qualitative	Contextual behavior	Real-world insights	Early discovery, complex systems
Diary Studies	Qualitative	Long-term behavior	Emotional journey, habits	Longitudinal studies
Analytics Review	Quantitative	Usage patterns	Identifying drop-offs, trends	Ongoing, post-launch
Focus Groups	Qualitative	Group opinions	Messaging, concept feedback	Early ideation or marketing

Final Thoughts

The best UX research strategy often blends multiple methods. Start with exploratory qualitative research to uncover user needs, then use quantitative methods to validate and scale your findings. Remember: the goal isn’t just to collect data—it’s to drive better design decisions.

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