7 Skills you need to become a UX Researcher.
UX researchers play a critical role in the design process. The purpose of the UX researcher is to unearth human insights and they are responsible for providing answers to challenging and often unexplored questions .
Additionally, UX Researchers have to provide actionable and meaningful data-driven insights that represent the voice of multiple users.
In order to do this, UX researcher not only conducts research, but also works with cross-functional teams while assisting the entire user experience (UX) team in ensuring that the Users have an astounding User experience with product.
With this, lets discuss what are the major skills you need to have to become a UX Researcher.
Well before we begin. Lets understand
Who is a UX Researcher?
UX researchers systematically gathers the insights of the User needs by understanding them deeply. In fact, rather than guessing and assuming what user needs, they analyze user behavior to form data-driven insights by interacting with them.
A UX Researcher uses Quantitative and Qualitative Research methods to conduct User Research.It is important to note that each research method serves a specific purpose. And Based on the identified Research objective the appropriate UX Research method is chosen to conduct Research with target Users.
And finally, they then work with UX designers, engineers, and product managers to transform these informed insights into a Human Centered Design.
In a nutshell, primary responsibilities of a UX Researcher includes designing, conducting, analyzing, and reporting the UX research and usability testing, in order to guide the application of design.
How to become a UX Researcher?
Now that you are familiar with some of the key responsibilities of a UX researcher, let’s understand what skills are required to become a UX researcher and get into the field of UX Research.
First and foremost Being a UX researcher typically requires you to understand people and empathize with them. Moreover a UX researcher must be comfortable in handling data and analytics.
A UX researcher has to work with stakeholders and Product Team including UX Designers, engineers. Hence, it is important to have a solid understanding of the design thinking process and design strategy.
Lets get a sneak peak about 7 major skills you must develop to be a UX Researcher
1. Understanding People and Psychology
As a UX Researcher your job is to read people, not just what they say but also who they are. You have to get past their mask in order to reveal their real self by Interpreting verbal as well as nonverbal cues.
More often, non-verbal signs, such as gestures or mimics, convey more than words. Infact, more than words, people express their feelings through movements hence, Watch their physical movements as well.
It is important to understand that before you even attempt to read people, you must have an open mind. Do not let your emotions and past experiences influence your opinion because it would lead you to misread people.
Gaining a richer and deeper understanding of people and their psychology can help you to achieve insights and get an understanding of people.
2. Knowledge about UX design techniques
UX Researcher works with UX Designers and other relevant stakeholders to synthesize the observations gathered by conducting UX research to reveal relevant Insights.
A UX Researcher has to ultimately present the synthesized information in the form of digestible manner. And this is done by using various Visualization tools For Example, Empathy Maps, building Personas, Affinity Mapping ; and Mathematical tools like Pie charts, bar graphs and so on.
Hence, it is important that you have a good understanding about using each mathematical and Visualization tool.
3. Knowledge of UX research tools
For a UX researcher, the most important tool is paper and pen to take notes while conducting research and writing their observations, and a voice recorder to record the voice of the user. However, apart from that a UX researcher must be comfortable in handling various research tools basis the chosen research method.
For example quantitative research requires you to capture information from users in numeric form by conducting surveys so a UX researcher must be comfortable with using MS office for writing surveys, or there are online tools like Survey monkey if survey is conducted online.
However if qualitative research is being conducted then depending on the method, UX researcher must be able to reach interviewees and conduct research with them.
Google tools like Google Analytics, Google Optimize are also very helpful.
Additionally, UX Researcher has to deliver high quality, engaging, and interactive presentations to stakeholders and product departments. So, it is essential that a UX Researcher has proficiency in MS office as well.
4. Communication Skills
As mentioned above that UX Researcher should have a good comprehension of UX research methods which involves some complex research concepts which most people have difficulty in understanding.
Hence, a UX Researcher must have excellent communication skills to be able to communicate and present these research methodology concepts and findings to the stakeholders in a clear, simple, and digestible manner.
Infact, they need to possess communication skills in written as well as verbal form.
5. Industry Knowledge
In order to extract data , you need to have researcher who has the expertise that relates to the subject matter being studied. However if they are unfamiliar with industry concepts and if researchers lacks the knowledge then there is no way to correctly interpret the data.
In-fact, they wouldn’t even ask the relevant questions that are necessary to get the results . And all this can lead to a complete waste of time. You can only get answers to questions you ask and if researchers don’t ask, then insight may be missed.
Additionally, UX researcher discusses new product or a feature with Product teams. Hence they must understand the business concepts and align business objectives with target audience’s pains.
6. Empathy skills
Understand the user and their problems is easy by building empathy to learn who they are and whats important to them. Building Empathy is about developing understanding about what & why do the users feel, do, think and say so, their needs, goals, problems.
Empathy is a skill where you put aside your self beliefs and opinions. You give up all of your preconceived notions and connect with people to understand and share feelings. You understand their perspective by deeply connecting with their circumstances and situations.
Empathy interview aims to understand thoughts, emotions, and motivations to uncover User needs, and design to meet those needs. Interview includes open conversations with open ended questions.
Be Genuinely curious and Question everything while exploring entire aspects of their lives. Question what motivates them? Question why they do and feel so? Wonder why they have said so?
Learn more from this Stanford d.school study which provides abundant information on interviewing for empathy.
7. Analytical mindset
The primary role of a UX Researcher is to formulate actionable research solutions for Design Problem. Hence, the UX Researcher must possess analytical mindset of understanding and interpreting the information .
Infact a UX researher has to read between the lines of users during research and then come up with creative solutions for design.
Moreover, in the course of research UX researcher has to follow another direction by asking other questions if they feel that they are not getting desired results.
All this requires analytic skills about when to deviate from the path and follow another tangent and ask questions accordingly.
Pro Skill — Experience
Though it is not counted as a skill however, many Job portals mention that UX Researcher should have minimum 2 years of work experience in statistical analysis, qualitative analysis, quantitative analysis, usability testing (to be specific) .
Additionally, as a UX researcher you need to have both- an analytical mind to read data and soft skills to read people. Apart from that they must have a strong understanding of different UX research methods.
A UX Researcher should have a clear understanding of of when and how to apply research method including the strength and limitation of each method. Overall, practice makes perfect, and refining these skills as often as you can will prepare you for your future role.
Tips to become a UX Researcher
Here are some key Tips that can help you to become a great UX Researcher
- Having an excellent verbal communication skills so that you can express your findings in most engaging ways one of the best Tips for becoming a great UX researcher.
- Be creative and innovative while coming up with new ideas.
- Be curious and enthusiastic for learning design and technology trends.
- Iterating on the ideas should not make you uncomfortable.
- Should have good In-depth understanding of Key UX Research methods be it Qualitative or Quantitative Research methods.
- Good Experience in conducting user research and usability Testing.
- Critical-thinker and problem-solver.
- Be a Team player who brings everyone together.
- Good time-management skills with the ability to meet deadlines.
Summary
Today the Role of the user experience (UX) researcher has become extremely lucrative, important and in demand.Observation, understanding, and analysis, in order to design products and services that provide an astounding User Experience is the ultimate goal of a UX Researcher.
It is important to note that While A UX researcher should have a solid understanding of analytics and design process , they must also have soft skills such as interpersonal skills, empathy skills and most importantly a willingness to collaborate.
See, you dont need a UX research degree (it doesn’t exist ) and the best way to make big is by immersing yourself in it. Read , network with people in the UX field, infact take up some volunteer projects to build a portfolio and get experience.
All of this would help you in clinching your ultimate dream job that you have been aspiring for.
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