# User Research

> User research and customer discovery methods. Use when: - Understanding customer needs - Designing interview questions - Finding product opportunities - Validating assumptions

- Skill: `huangqianqian120/user-research` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add huangqianqian120/user-research`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/huangqianqian120/user-research/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Product & Planning
- Author: huangqianqian120 (https://skillmd.com/u/huangqianqian120)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/huangqianqian120/user-research

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# User Research

## Jobs to Be Done (JTBD)

**Core insight:** People "hire" products, they don't buy them.

### What vs Why

- **What** people say they want = Unreliable
- **Why** they change = Real insight

### The JTBD Question

> "What happened that made you decide TODAY was the day you were going to [adopt this product]?"

Look for:
- Struggling moments (push)
- Desired outcomes (pull)
- Anxieties about change (F3)
- Habits of current solution (F4)

## Forces of Progress

| Force | Description | Direction |
|--------|-------------|-----------|
| F1 | Push from current situation | + |
| F2 | Pull toward new solution | + |
| F3 | Anxiety about change | - |
| F4 | Habit of current solution | - |

**Change happens when:** F1 + F2 > F3 + F4

## Customer Journey Phases

1. **First thought** — "Maybe I need something"
2. **Passive looking** — Problem aware, solution unaware
3. **Active looking** — Actively searching for solutions
4. **Deciding** — Comparing options, making trade-offs
5. **First use** — Initial experience
6. **Ongoing use** — Habit formation

## Interview Techniques

### Good Questions

- "Tell me the story of how you decided to..."
- "What was happening in your life when..."
- "What did you try before?"
- "Why is that important to you?"

### Avoid

- Leading questions
- "Do you think you would use X?"
- Questions about the future (unreliable)

## Customer Research Repo

For ongoing projects, maintain:

- Interview transcripts
- Key quotes by theme
- Common struggles
- Hire/fire criteria
- Personas by use case

**Purpose:** Don't repeat research — build on findings.

## Sources

- Bob Moesta (JTBD co-creator)
- Melissa Perri (Product Ops)
- Teresa Torres (Continuous Discovery)
- Lenny's Podcast research episodes