#80 - UX Research and Arab Cultures – with Norah Abokhodair of Microsoft

Doing research with users from different cultures is (very, very) important. It can also be complicated. In this episode, we are joined by Norah Abokhodair, Senior Program Manager at Microsoft, who spoke about conducting research in Arab cultures.

She explained some of the nuances of Arabic and Arab cultures, how to recruit diverse participants, and how to adjust your research style depending on the context.

Highlights

• [2:11] If you want to build products for everyone, include a more diverse audience in your research.
• [6:44] Diversely designed experiences are our right—overcoming a cultural hesitancy to critique “Western” products.
• [12:57] Context matters—adjusting your research style to different cultural expectations.
• [18:07] Norah's top recruiting tip for recruiting participants from Arabic cultures.
• [20:02] How to remain sensitive when doing research in a culture that is not your own.
• [31:56] Balancing confusing research logistics with recruiting a diverse population.

About our guest

Norah Abokhodair is a product manager and UX leader focused on global, ethical, and inclusive tech. At the time of our interview, Norah was a Senior Program Manager at Microsoft where she led UX research planning and strategy for Microsoft Learning Innovation Studio including projects focused on machine learning, personalization, and AI fairness. Prior to Microsoft, Norah received her PhD at the University of Washington, where her research focused on social media in Arabic cultures.