UX Research

A Comprehensive Guide To UX Research

Abstract

This guide, published by Smashing Magazine, offers an extensive overview of UX research methods and best practices, aimed at helping product teams deeply understand user behavior, motivations, and needs. The article walks through the entire UX research process from generative and evaluative research to qualitative and quantitative techniques. It explains when and how each method should be used. It also addresses practical topics such as recruiting participants, selecting research tools, and synthesizing findings.

This resource is especially valuable for aspiring and entry-level product managers because effective UX research is a key competency for building products that actually solve user problems. While many beginner PMs focus on roadmaps or features, this guide emphasizes the importance of validating assumptions early and continuously learning from users. Understanding these concepts will help new PMs work more effectively with designers and user researchers while advocating for evidence-based decision-making.

Tips for using this resource:

• Focus on the “Types of UX Research” and “When to Conduct Research” sections first because these will help you understand what to do at each product development stage.
• Use the diagrams and examples to visualize how research fits into the product process.
• If you’re preparing for a case interview or PM project, try selecting one UX research method described here and applying it to a real or hypothetical p