What Qualities UX Designers Seek in UX Researchers: A Comprehensive Guide

Karl Mochel covered this topic pretty thoroughly. This article aims to expand on the key points and add insights from my own experiences.

Why Would a UX Designer Be Interviewing a UX Researcher?

Typically, a UX Manager would handle the overall interview process. However, a UX designer should be most concerned with specific deliverables and expectations between research and design. This article will delve deeper into these expectations.

What Do You Mean by 'Research'?

Many clients consider business analyst requirements gathering and market research skills to be UX research. This article offers a more nuanced view of the range of UX roles.

Key Qualities to Look for in a UX Researcher

As a UX designer, you should be able to identify that a UX researcher:

Can do what you can do in terms of research, but faster and better, Has a deep and full-time commitment to research methods and user understanding, Is capable of handling complex and niche research scenarios.

Finding a Researcher Who Understands the Nitty-Gritty

As a UX designer trained in basic research methods, I can get most of what I need done, but there is a level of research that requires extensive experience and expertise. I do not want my own research conducted by designers who are only meeting the minimum requirements. I want to trust a researcher who can produce solid, reliable, and unbiased results.

Methods and Best Practices in Research

To ensure your research is robust and unbiased, one must follow best practices. There are no one-size-fits-all solutions, as the world is full of unique and unusual scenarios. For example, testing a consumer product on average consumers can be straightforward, but testing a niche internal enterprise product requires different methods and considerations. The researcher must be able to adapt and modify methods to suit the specific context and present the findings convincingly.

Impressive Experiences in Research

I will highlight a few instances where researchers stood out:

Successfully recruiting a complete stranger for a research study, showcasing the researcher's interpersonal and persuasive skills. Challenging a project manager to adhere to superior design choices and ensuring the research was conducted flawlessly. Mastering interview techniques to reduce participant bias, making participants fill in the answers without prompting.

Depressing Experiences in Research

Unfortunately, there are also cases where researchers failed to deliver high-quality results:

Presenting survey responses, including participants' names, which created a breach of trust and transparency. Applying textbook methods to a non-textbook situation without considering the context and usability of the results.

Conclusion

By focusing on solid research methods and removing bias, a UX researcher can become the foundation of a successful UX design process. As a designer, it is essential to find a trusted partner who can handle both the common and complex challenges of user research.