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Learning stageCapable stageThriving stageGuiding stageLeading stage
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Strategy: Planning and Structuring User Research
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Deeply understanding the needs of your team and stakeholders
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Setting clear, measurable goals for each research initiative
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Assessing competitors’ research strategies and integrating insights into your own work
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Ensuring ethical practices are at the core of research planning, including user privacy, data protection, and inclusivity
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Selecting the most appropriate qualitative and quantitative methods for research goals
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Developing strategies to recruit representative and diverse participants
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Creating timelines that include key research milestones and stakeholder engagement points
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Creating a rolling research program that enables user research to be conducted on a continuous basis
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Execution: Approaching and Conducting User Research
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Conducting 1x1 user interviews to extract deep insights
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Diary studies: Tracking user behavior over time to understand habits and needs
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Card sorting: Understanding how users categorize information
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Concept testing: Evaluating users’ reactions to early-stage ideas or prototype
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Surveys: Designing and deploying large-scale surveys to gather quantitative data.
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Usability metrics (e.g., SUS, UMUX, SEQ: Measuring usability and satisfaction through standardized metrics
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Benchmarking studies: Measuring performance against industry or historical benchmarks
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Mixed methods: Combining qualitative and quantitative data for richer insights
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Interviewing techniques: Mastering the art of asking non-leading questions and probing for deeper insights
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Data cleaning: Ensuring data quality by removing inconsistencies and noise from datasets
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Thematic analysis: Identifying recurring themes across qualitative data sets
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Experience sampling: Gathering data at specific moments in a user’s experience to understand context and emotion
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Low-fidelity prototyping: Testing low-cost prototypes to understand initial concepts
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High-fidelity prototyping: Testing more polished prototypes for specific interactions
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Remote usability testing: Conducting usability tests with participants who are not in the same location
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Moderated vs. unmoderated testing: Choosing between facilitated sessions and self-guided tests
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Task-based usability testing: Focusing on how users complete key tasks
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Heuristic evaluation: Assessing designs based on established usability principles
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Heatmaps & click maps: Visualizing where users interact most on a page, helping to optimize layout and design
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Behavioral analytics: Using tools like Google Analytics, Hotjar, or Mixpanel to track user behavior across digital platforms
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Sequential exploratory design: Using qualitative research first and then conducting quantitative studies to explain patterns found in the data
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Triangulation: Combining multiple research methods to cross-validate findings and ensure more robust conclusions
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Tree testing: Evaluating the effectiveness of a site’s navigation by asking users to locate specific information without visual cues
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First-click testing: Evaluating the effectiveness of a user’s first interaction with a design to assess how intuitive it is
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Content testing: Evaluating the effectiveness of copy, images, and other content by assessing how users interpret and react to it
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Assessing and choosing the best tools for your organization and team's needs
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Activation: Communicating and Acting on Research
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Creating compelling visuals (e.g., charts, graphs, journey maps) that convey research findings.
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Telling engaging stories that connect data to user needs and business outcomes
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Creating concise reports for leadership that highlight key takeaways.
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Leading workshops to present findings and drive collaborative problem-solving
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Documenting research impact through detailed case studies that illustrate outcomes and improvements
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Engaging stakeholders early to ensure their support for research initiatives
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Tailoring communication to different audiences (e.g., designers, engineers, product managers)
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Championing user research within the organization and ensuring it is valued at all levels
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Promoting the benefits of user research across departments to increase participation and interest
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Actively involving stakeholders early and throughout the research process to ensure alignment with their goals and to build buy-in.
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Blank = you haven't engaged with or are unfamiliar with this skill
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Learning stage = you are still in the process of understanding this skill and how to apply it to your work
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Capable stage = you have applied this skill several times to your work and feel comfortable doing the skill alone
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Thiriving stage = you have mastered the skill
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Guiding stage = you have mastered the skill and can help others develop the skill
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Leading stage = you have mastered the skill and can confidently teach the skill to others
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