What's my name?

My goals as a researcher

🔹Discover pain points and frustrations people might not know they have by combining generative and evaluative mixed-methods research

🔹Recommend empirically based design features that bring ease and spark joy in people

🔹Serve as a bridge between the user and the business by deeply understanding the goals of both and bringing harmony to often conflicting needs.

  Who I am

 🔹Cognitive scientist with 8 years of experience conducting people research, recently as DISH TV's first and only UX Researcher.

   🔹Adaptable thinker who thrives in ambiguity by skillfully crafting indirect methods to explore nuanced research questions and uncovering high-impact avenues for investigation.

 🔹Disability advocate who prioritizes product accessibility and workplace inclusion 

What I have to offer

🔹Well-rounded research maturity

🔹Extensive statistical knowledge (& passion!)

🔹Growth mindset

🔹Strong self-management skills 

Reflect on previous research

Revisit what was done well and what could have been done better in similar research and develop a plan for improved research this time around.

Assumption slam

We all hold biases and assumptions, and left unchecked, these can spoil our research. Beyond assumptions, I reflect on and address other factors that may negatively affect my research (e.g., expectations, company politics, etc).

Zoom out to bigger picture

Consider how this research fits into larger research vision and strategy to prioritize and enhance long term benefits of research.

Stakeholder alignment

Stakeholder interviews are just as important as participant interviews. I work with stakeholders to narrow down research questions and goals to ensure that the proper research is being done. When appropriate, I gradually enhance stakeholders’ knowledge of various aspects of research.

Backwards design for maximum value added

Foreshadow the impact I envision for this research and the value it will add to product design and strategy and work my way backward from there.

Secondary research

I love making homemade lemonade. Just like lemons, I know user research is not cheap, so I squeeze out every ounce of knowledge from existing research findings before pursuing new user research. You can look at the same set of data from a hundred different perspectives and often find something new and applicable.

Consider multiple methods

When planning research, I don’t stop with the first or most obvious method that comes to mind. I force myself to go beyond that and consider benefits of various methods against constraints and timeline.

Identify target sample

Identify ideal types of users to test (typical user, non user, extreme user, peripheral user, past user, loyal to competitor user, expert user, subject-matter expert user, should-be user, future user, wannabe user; credit to Tatev Hovhanniusyan LinkedIn post). Then identify how to source people in a way that will bring in high-quality participants.

Pilot the study

Once the study has been crafted, I test it out to work out any kinks and enhance the study, ideally with someone unfamiliar with the research question.

Record the details

Capture insightful quotes and specific observations to enhance storytelling in presentation of results to stakeholders.

Keep stakeholders informed

To engage stakeholders, I keep stakeholders in the loop in real time and occasionally invite to observe sessions when appropriate. It is easier to build anticipation throughout the research process rather than fighting for by in at the very end.

Engage multiple perspectives

I like to review my data at least twice – both right when I receive the data and a day or two later. Ideally, a second set of eyes will be available to look over the data to address any of my blind spots.

Craft a story

 Identify most effective data and visualizations to present and weave it into an overall story that lays out a logical path to implementing the results into design decisions.

Mini-lesson for product team

 When appropriate, I like to include little tidbits of research knowledge in presentations to decision makers to enhance relations among team members and improve buy-in.

Document

People are over-confident in how much they will remember in the future. I document all the steps in research for a research repository which can be referenced by other researchers in the future.

SWOT Analysis

Identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats during the research process to continually improve my research craft. As part of this, I proactively seek feedback from team members.

Follow-up

I follow up on the research at the appropriate times at various points in the future to examine the short and long-term impacts. I incorporate this knowledge into the documentation as well as a personal record of research value added.