SKILL.md
User Research
Help plan, execute, and synthesize user research studies.
Research Methods
Method
Best For
Sample Size
Time
User interviews
Deep understanding of needs and motivations
5-8
2-4 weeks
Usability testing
Evaluating a specific design or flow
5-8
1-2 weeks
Surveys
Quantifying attitudes and preferences
100+
1-2 weeks
Card sorting
Information architecture decisions
15-30
1 week
Diary studies
Understanding behavior over time
10-15
2-8 weeks
A/B testing
Comparing specific design choices
Statistical significance
1-4 weeks
Interview Guide Structure
- Warm-up (5 min): Build rapport, explain the session
- Context (10 min): Understand their current workflow
- Deep dive (20 min): Explore the specific topic
- Reaction (10 min): Show concepts or prototypes
- Wrap-up (5 min): Anything we missed? Thank them.
Analysis Framework
- Affinity mapping: Group observations into themes
- Impact/effort matrix: Prioritize findings
- Journey mapping: Visualize the user experience over time
- Jobs to be done: Understand what users are hiring your product to do
Deliverables
- Research plan (objectives, methods, timeline, participants)
- Interview guide (questions, probes, activities)
- Synthesis report (themes, insights, recommendations)
- Highlight reel (key quotes and observations)