A mind map for gaining clarity in UX research
By: Magda Mihalache
Tags: User Experience, Research, Clarity, UX Research, Mapping

UX is a discipline where there is a lot of uncertainty.

UX Researchers are surrounded by so much information that sometimes it’s hard to distinguish between what is valuable and what is noise. There are a variety of design methods that can be applied to acquire users’ insights, yet they are so diverse that it’s hard to pick only some. And to make things worse, stakeholders don’t understand the role, and you have to be extra confident to help them trust you.

Mystification is simple; clarity is the hardest thing of all. - Julian Barnes

I present below a mapping method that has the goal of helping the understanding of the big picture, connecting it with the methods used, and filtering the results achieved. Each step is accompanied by an example, to get a more specific taste of it. I’ve used it myself before as a way to improve my capabilities of solving problems and explain to my peers what I was doing in a simpler way.

Map everything

But first of all, let’s talk about the basics: visualizing everything in the same place.

Having your entire strategy mapped is like taking a lantern with you when it’s dark outside and there’s no other lightning source. Initially, you only see a few of your surroundings. Gradually, bit by bit, you start realizing where you need to go next.

Walking blindly, with no lantern, is not necessarily wrong — but it has a high chance of getting you to the wrong places.

Learn to take control of your path and bring your “research“ lantern with you.

I like to use the Miro tool to visualize the mapping strategy because it has a friendly interface and it’s easy to use, with pre-determined diagrams. However, you can use many others; I found Capterra a nice platform to explore potential mapping tools.

The only requirement is to have your entire strategy in one place. I do recommend an online tool (and not writing on paper) so you can easily modify the content and possibly share it with any interested stakeholder.

Identify the problem

Now it’s time to start populating your map.

You are in this role because you have problems to solve. Write them down.

Identify the “Big Problem” that prevents people from accomplishing their goals.

Find the questions worth answering

The next step is to find the questions worth answering connected to the problem.

When searching for the right questions, find the right ones based on the context of the problem and the information available.

For example, I first think about assessing the current state: How satisfied are users with the current setup? This helps me understand where things stand and the amount of effort needed to solve the problem.

What are their frustrations? What makes them happy now? I wouldn’t want to change something that is already working.

Lastly, I think about the maximum effort users are willing to do to accomplish the action. What are the time and resources users are willing to invest in?

Find the methods and metrics worth exploring

Connect each question with the methods and their appropriate metrics. Ensure you ask yourself WHY you are using a particular method and metric every time.

Is your question expecting a YES/NO answer, a categorization of users, a level of satisfaction? Then probably a questionnaire would be a good addition. Are you interested in gathering ideas and qualitative insights from users? Then lean towards experimental approaches or participatory evaluations.

What is important here is to have more than one method. I recommend three for triangulation.

“The term triangulation refers to the practice of using multiple sources of data or multiple approaches to analyzing data to enhance the credibility of a research study.” (Source)

Using more than one method helps you realize if the results of the research converge in the same direction. A useful resource covering methods and when to use them in the design process is Martin Maguire’s Methods to support human-centred design.