Skill Profile
User Research
"Understanding user needs, behaviours, and motivations through qualitative and quantitative research methods — generating insights that drive product decisions."
YOUR SKILLS
Problems This Skill Solves
- A product team is building features based on assumptions about users that turn out to be wrong — research replaces assumption with evidence
- A new market is being entered without understanding local user needs — research builds the knowledge base before expensive design begins
- Stakeholders disagree about the priority of a feature — research provides user evidence that resolves the debate
Roles That Use This Skill
1 total · 1 industryThis skill is concentrated in one industry.
UX/Product Design / Technology
"User research is mainly about validating assumptions — if users confirm the design in testing, the product is ready."
User testing confirms whether users can operate the product as designed. It does not validate whether the product solves the right problem, whether users would choose it over alternatives, or whether the behaviour observed in a controlled test reflects real-world usage. Products regularly pass usability testing and fail in the market because the research validated the solution, not the need.
"You need a psychology degree to do user research."
User research is a learnable practice. The core skills — structured questioning, unbiased facilitation, and systematic analysis — are taught in UX programmes and through deliberate practice.
Research & Outlook
Mixed-methods research (qual + quant) is the standard in mature product organisations.
See This Skill In Action
Watch a professional demonstrate User Research in a real working environment — what it looks like, how it's applied, and why it matters.
Design / Research
User Research
Connected Skills
Growth Path
Can conduct structured interviews, synthesise findings using affinity mapping, and produce a research report with key themes.
Designs end-to-end research studies using appropriate methods, integrates qual and quant findings, and communicates insights that drive prioritisation decisions.
Leads a research function, builds an organisational research practice, selects and deploys the right methodology for each research question, and influences product strategy with research evidence.
How to Practise
- 1.Conduct 5 depth interviews on a topic you care about and practise synthesising findings into themes without over-interpreting
- 2.Design and run a survey that tests a specific hypothesis, then analyse results and present findings
- 3.Complete the Nielsen Norman Group UX Research career course or Google UX Design Certificate
How to Prove
- ·A UX research portfolio with case studies showing research questions, methodology, data, and impact on product decisions
- ·Published research reports from professional or academic settings
- ·UXR-specific job title or research lead credit on a shipped product