# User Research

> Use when planning user interviews, writing discussion guides, running usability tests, or synthesizing research findings

- Skill: `kienbui1995/user-research` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add kienbui1995/user-research`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/kienbui1995/user-research/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Research & Search
- Author: kienbui1995 (https://skillmd.com/u/kienbui1995)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/kienbui1995/user-research

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# User Research

## When to Use
When you need to understand user needs, validate a concept, or test whether a design works before or after building.

## Core Jobs

### 1. Choose the Research Method
| Method | Use When | Output |
|--------|----------|--------|
| User interviews | Understand problems, motivations, context | Qualitative insights |
| Usability testing | Test if design works | Issues + severity |
| Survey | Quantify attitudes at scale | Stats + verbatims |
| Diary study | Understand longitudinal behavior | Behavioral patterns |
| Card sorting | Information architecture | Navigation structure |

### 2. Write the Discussion Guide (Interviews)
Structure:
- **Intro** (5 min): purpose, permission to record, "no wrong answers"
- **Warm-up** (5 min): their role, context, how they currently solve the problem
- **Core questions** (30 min): open-ended, one topic at a time
- **Concept test** (optional, 10 min): show prototype, ask to think aloud
- **Wrap-up** (5 min): anything else they'd like to share, referrals

Rules:
- Start broad ("tell me about your workflow") before specific
- Never lead: "Do you find it confusing?" → "What do you think of this?"
- Silence is OK — let them fill it

### 3. Run the Session
- Recruit 5–8 participants per segment (enough to see patterns)
- Two people: one facilitates, one takes notes
- Record (with permission)
- Note quotes verbatim, not paraphrases

### 4. Synthesize Findings
- Affinity mapping: group observations by theme
- Write insights: "Users who X tend to Y because Z"
- Don't report "5 users said X" — report what it means

## Key Outputs
- Research plan (goals, methods, recruit criteria)
- Discussion guide / test script
- Synthesis report with actionable insights
- Recommendations linked to design or product decisions

## Anti-Patterns
- Research after building (too late to change)
- Leading questions that confirm existing beliefs
- Recruiting friends/coworkers (not real users)
- Reporting what users said without interpreting what it means