Affinity Diagramming refers to the process of organizing related facts, ideas, or observations into distinct categories.

Affinity Diagramming

- The process where understanding is built out of a collection of data.

- The process is ill defined and complex due to involving data that is incomplete, and can be deceptive or wrong. 

Sensemaking within User Research

While working with a large interdisciplinary team, everyone needs to be on the same page about user needs and behaviors, project goals, and all the different parts involved in a project. This common understanding by the team is commonly built by mapping. Mappings help a team make sense of and describe various parts and processes associated with a product or project.

UX mapping methods

Thematic analysis is a specialized nonstatistical technique used in qualitative research to analyze relatively unfiltered data by focusing on the prominent themes that emerge. Researchers use this method to deeply understand participant experiences rather than relying on numerical statistics.

Thematic Analysis

Methods used by UX researchers to analyze and interpret data that is collected.

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

UX research methods can be used to generate insights about users’ behaviors, motivations, attitudes, and needs. You can use different UX research methods to assess pain points and highlight opportunities to improve the user experience of a product.

UX Research Methods

The process of determining significance within collected information.

Data Analysis and Interpretation Methods

- Field Study - we can see them do the task and get them to do what we want them to do, see what people do and how they work, including their living and work space and general home environment. The goal of Field Study is to observe people in their natural environment. 
- Ethnographic studies - A form of Field Study where you embed yourself in someone's life and see how they behave. This is rare to do as it is usually done over a long period of time, such as a month or a year. 
- Contextual inquiry -A form of Field Study where while observing you are asking questions, whether it's a set list of questions or clarifying questions.


Field Studies vs. Ethnographic Studies vs Contextual Inquiry

Research methods used by researchers to collect qualitative or quantitative data in studies.

Data collection methods in UX research

User Research employs a variety of methods to assess, test, and evaluate users and products.  Most studies would benefit from using a variety of methods but most people don't know what to use when. This article aims to help with this.

Dimensions of User-Experience (UX) Research Methods

Field studies/ lab studies are technically considered a UX research methods because we can use multiple data collection methods within them. Node topics can repeat but:  
- nodes in UX Research methods: focus on how to conduct method
- nodes in Data Collection methods: focus on how to extract Data 

Organization of Data Collection Methods inside UX Research Methods 

A research method where a researcher in a structured setting asks an individual questions about any given topic for the purpose of collecting data about that topic.  From a UX perspective, interviews are valued insofar as they solicit the real opinions and experiences that users have when interacting with any given site or system, and the information collected can help improve that system. 

User Interviews

- Always ask if it's okay to film/record.
- Do not ask leading questions.
- Reassure your interviewees.
- Observe, then intervene if necessary.
- Be patient.
- Be clear with your directions.
- Troubleshoot before session.

Valuable Tips for Conducting User and UX Research

Before addressing primary research questions, researchers conduct preliminary analyses to evaluate the quality and characteristics of their data. This initial phase typically involves assessing the internal consistency of multiple-response measures, analyzing the distribution of each important variable separately, and identifying and managing any outliers.

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