When Product Owners Don’t Believe in UX Research – Challenges and How to Overcome Them

Philip Burgess
Aug 15
2 min read

Updated: Aug 16

By Philip Burgess – UX Research Leader

In an ideal world, product owners (POs) and UX researchers work hand in hand—POs define priorities and business goals, and researchers provide evidence to guide decisions. But sometimes, you’ll encounter a product owner who doesn’t see the value in UX research. They may view it as slowing things down, stating the obvious, or not delivering ROI.

This misalignment can create tension, impact product quality, and make it harder for researchers to do meaningful work.

1. Why Some Product Owners Resist UX Research

Product owners are under constant pressure to deliver features quickly, hit business targets, and manage multiple stakeholder demands. Common reasons they push back on UX research include:

Time pressure – Belief that research will delay delivery.
Cost concerns – Viewing research as an expense rather than an investment.
Overconfidence in assumptions – Thinking they already know what users want.
Past bad experiences – Having seen poorly run or inconclusive studies before.
Focus on output over outcomes – Prioritizing shipping features over validating their impact.

2. The Difficulties This Creates for UX Researchers

When a PO doesn’t believe in research, the challenges are both tactical and cultural:

No time in the roadmap – Research gets skipped or cut short.
Minimal access to users – Hard to recruit participants without stakeholder support.
Limited influence on decisions – Product direction is driven by opinion, not evidence.
Frustrated teams – Designers and developers work from incomplete information.
Morale issues – Researchers feel their work isn’t valued.

3. Strategies for Bridging the Gap

While it’s tempting to respond with more data, success often comes from building trust and aligning with the PO’s priorities.

a. Speak Their Language

Tie research directly to business metrics they care about:

“Reducing checkout friction could lower cart abandonment by 15%.”
“Validating this workflow now could save 3 sprints of rework.”

b. Start Small

Run quick, low-cost studies (e.g., remote unmoderated tests) that provide insights in days. Show how even small findings can influence decisions.

c. Involve Them in the Process

Invite POs to observe live research sessions. Seeing real users struggle can be more persuasive than a report.

d. Share Quick Wins

Highlight examples where research prevented costly mistakes or confirmed a high-impact opportunity.

e. Build a Track Record

Over time, consistently deliver insights that lead to better outcomes. Trust grows with evidence of success.

4. Knowing When to Push and When to Let Go

Not every battle needs to be fought in the moment. Sometimes, earning the right to do bigger research means delivering smaller, impactful wins first. If resistance persists, focus on documenting decisions and potential risks so you’ve provided a clear record for future conversations.

Final Thoughts

A product owner’s skepticism toward UX research isn’t always about the research itself—it’s about trust, priorities, and past experiences. By aligning research with business goals, starting small, and demonstrating tangible value, you can turn skepticism into advocacy.

And when that happens, you’re no longer just running studies—you’re shaping a culture where decisions are guided by real user insight, not guesswork.