Nikki Anderson, a user research expert, discusses the importance of research operations. Topics include navigating loneliness in research, effective communication, setting up foundations for research, empathy for stakeholders, and valuable resources for research practices.
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Quick takeaways
Defining clear research goals is crucial for providing direction and ensuring alignment with stakeholders' needs.
Research frameworks serve as foundational structures in user research projects, preventing burnout and enhancing overall effectiveness.
Deep dives
The Importance of Setting Research Goals
In the podcast, the guest emphasizes the significance of defining clear research goals. Setting goals provides direction, structure, and ensures alignment with stakeholders' needs. It helps researchers avoid feeling lost or lacking direction during a project. By determining the goals upfront, researchers can focus on uncovering specific information that aligns with stakeholders' objectives, ultimately leading to actionable and impactful research outcomes.
Foundation of Research Frameworks
The guest highlights the essential need for research frameworks as foundational structures in user research projects. Frameworks act like foundations for a house, providing stability and preventing researchers from operating on shaky ground. Without a framework, researchers may experience burnout from lack of prioritization, leading to challenges in articulating their impact. Establishing frameworks facilitates setting up key processes like stakeholder education, recruitment planning, and project prioritization, enhancing the overall effectiveness of research endeavors.
Empathy for Stakeholders in Research Practice
The discussion delves into the importance of empathy towards stakeholders within the realm of research practice. The guest underscores the significant role of understanding and empathizing with stakeholders' goals and challenges. By fostering empathy for stakeholders, researchers can build better collaborative relationships, recognizing that everyone aims to create successful products and sustain thriving businesses. Encouraging empathy across diverse research roles cultivates a culture of mutual support and understanding, enriching the overall research practice ecosystem.
Nikki Anderson is an independent user research consultant, instructor, author, and speaker. Nikki uses her background in education and psychology to mentor people and organizations on the value of user research. And now, she’s written a book to help them build up their research operations. That’s the focus of our conversation today.