user research
/ˈjuːzər rɪˈsɜːrtʃ/ · u·ser re·search
noun
- The systematic investigation of users' behaviors, needs, motivations, and pain points to inform the design of products, services, or systems. Before redesigning the app, the team conducted extensive user research to understand how people actually navigated the interface.
- A discipline within user experience (UX) that employs methods such as interviews, surveys, usability testing, and field observations. User research revealed that most customers preferred a one‑click checkout, prompting a redesign of the purchase flow.
Synonyms
usability testingUX researchhuman‑centered researchcustomer researchmarket researchethnographic studyfield studypersona development
Antonyms
Did you know? The term "user research" first appeared in a 1995 Nielsen Norman Group report, marking the shift from purely technical testing to a holistic, people‑focused design approach.