Does the field of user-centered design mystify you? Does user research seem like the last thing you have time to think about?

Any team can look at analytics to understand what users are doing and how often they’re doing it. What analytics won’t tell you is *why* users are doing certain things — sometimes you need more context. That’s where user research comes in. This session will map out a framework for incorporating low-cost user research into your development cycle.

The session will cover:

• Planning for the study — developing a user research strategy based on the goals of the project. This includes reviewing objectives as a team, developing a research hypothesis, and selecting methods that match the objectives of the study.
• Getting started — drafting moderator’s guides and recruiting participants, including tips about where to find participants and how to reach out to them.
• Conducting the study — practical tips for moderators like how to handle a difficult participant or how to moderate a usability study on a very difficult website.
• Analyzing the data and reporting — tips and tricks for analyzing the data in a way that will be meaningful to other members of your team. This includes recommendations on when to meet with the rest of your team, and what to bring to the meeting.