User Research

1. Background

This is should be a brief summary of what you already know. If appropriate, include a problem statement so your stakeholders understand how this gap in knowledge impacts your organization. Why do you need to conduct this research? If available, include data to support why additional research can benefit your organization or product. 

2. Objective (aka Desired Outcome)

What do you hope to accomplish by undertaking this research? If appropriate, use action-oriented language that mirrors organizational strategy or objectives.

3. Research Question(s)

What do you need to learn to help achieve your desired outcomes? 

4. Hypothesis (aka Assumptions)

What do you think will happen based on what you already know?

What assumptions about your users and your product do you need to test?

5. Methodology

What actions will you take to answer your research question? What methods will help you best test your hypothesis/assumptions? e.g. Surveys, interviews, focus groups, usability testing; moderated, unmoderated

6. Project Plan

Step-by-step outline of the actions needed to execute the research. 

• Sample: who is your target sample? how will you recruit them?

• Resources: who and what do you need?

• Roles and Responsibilities: who is doing what?

• Timeline: what's happening and when?

• Data collection: how will you collect data? what and how will you document? where will you store it?