Before conducting any type of user research\u2014whether a usability study or phone interviews\u2014it’s best to start at the very beginning. (Though probably never a UX researcher, Maria von Trapp had it exactly right.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Creating a user research plan is a very good place to start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My first step in writing a research plan is to conduct one or more discovery discussions with my client stakeholders as well as review any supporting documentation they provide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
See also: How to Evaluate or Critique a UX Research Plan or Findings Report<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n During the discovery discussion, I may ask questions like:<\/p>\n My research plan template<\/a> is in Microsoft Word and is nothing fancy. To make it more scannable, I use tables to break apart each section (below). My\u00a0typical research plan is 2-3 pages long.\u00a0<\/p>\n At the top of the plan, I include the name of the project, overall timing, client stakeholder contacts, and my contact information.<\/p>\n If there will be multiple research studies within a project, such as an online survey with follow-up phone interviews\u2014I will create multiple research plans. One overarching plan, and then a plan for each specific study.<\/p>\n My research plan template<\/a> includes\u00a0the following categories:<\/p>\n Here, I detail everything I know about a project:<\/p>\n Tip:<\/strong> I write this in a way that is presentation-friendly, as I will usually pull it as-is into the findings deck later.<\/p>\n Ultimately, what is the purpose of this research? What will this research help to inform or solve? Understanding the larger goals helps me ensure the research is designed to help support my client’s business strategy. I want to ensure I provide actionable data, not merely interesting data.<\/p>\n Example business goals:<\/p>\n Research goals\u00a0are different from business goals. Here, I outline the research questions that the study will answer.<\/p>\n For example, the\u00a0business goal might be to improve the website conversion rate, but the research goal might be to better understand what information on the website customers need to make a purchase decision.<\/p>\n Prior to creating the research plan, I almost always\u00a0have already\u00a0determined the research methodology (in order to estimate the project). I include it again here along with any additional details. I also may include some language around why this particular methodology is the best approach or point out nuances about the methodology.<\/p>\n Next, I create an outline of the research topic along with sample questions. This is the same structure that I will use for the test design or discussion guide.<\/p>\n If it’s a usability study, I will also include a draft of the user scenarios.<\/p>\n I indicate whether the sessions will be recorded.<\/p>\n I use this information to build the screener, so I detail exactly who we want to recruit and who to screen out. I also include quotas here for each customer segment, if needed.<\/p>\n Participant profile\u00a0criteria varies\u00a0a lot from client to client, so don’t work from a standard template. Age is the only constant, so I can screen out minors.<\/p>\n Here, I explain where I will draw participants<\/a> from\u2014usually an email invitation, website intercept, or Facebook ads.<\/p>\n I also include the gratuity amount. I almost always give out Amazon.com gift cards. Gratuity amounts vary based on the length of the study and size of target audience. For example, more difficult-to-recruit participants will earn a higher incentive (e.g., medical doctors, business executives).<\/p>\n Typical gratuity amounts include:<\/p>\n I recently experimented with advertising $5 Starbucks gift cards for an online survey incentive. (Free coffee, right?) I think it may have worked pretty well as an incentive, but the purchase experience on my side isn’t on par with Amazon. It’s a lot clunkier, plus there’s zero visibility as to whether the card was received or redeemed by the participant.<\/p>\n Note: if you pay with Amazon.com gift cards, you’re not allowed to say so in the ad per their TOS. There’s a long disclaimer that’s also required. To get around this, I’ll say “$10 gift card” in the ad, then clarify that it’s a $10 Amazon.com gift card along with Amazon’s disclaimer on the first page of the screener.<\/p>\n How will the research and recruiting approach follow or apply research ethics principles\u2014 respect, justice, and beneficence\u2014such as:<\/p>\n In a table format, I include sign-off deadlines and milestones for:<\/p>\n During the research plan discovery, I will ask for input about turn-around times. Some clients can turn around approvals within a few days, others need a couple weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n If I need to reserve a usability lab or facility, I’ll do that now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This section is especially critical for usability sessions. I include a list of every role\u00a0that I highly recommend attend the sessions and why they are critical to the success of the research study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read more about why observers are important<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Along with the research findings and recommendations report, I also often create other deliverables\u2014such as a journey map or high-level concepts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I’ll provide a rough outline of the expected deliverables, such as number of concepts or type of concept. Again, this was usually already determined in the statement of work, but it’s good to repeat it here, as not all client stakeholders see the SOW.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While I wait for the\u00a0research plan to come back with edits or approval from my client, next I will usually get started writing the screener. A topic for another “How I Work” post!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Project Background<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Business Goals<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Research Goals<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Research Methodology<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Participant Profile(s)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Recruiting Methodology<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Ethics<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Timing<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Observers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Deliverables<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Next Steps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Related Articles<\/h2>\n\n\n