The main user-centred research methods are interviews, surveys, focus groups and field research. Designers use these methods to understand users’ needs, preferences, behaviours and contexts before developing or evaluating a design.
How the Methods Work
User-centred research gathers evidence directly from or about intended users. Using multiple methods provides triangulation, meaning findings can be compared to improve the reliability and validity of conclusions.
| Method | How it collects data | Main strength and limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Interviews | A researcher asks an individual user structured, semi-structured or open-ended questions. | They produce detailed qualitative data and allow follow-up questions, but they are time-consuming and may be affected by interviewer bias. |
| Surveys | Users answer a standardized set of open or closed questions, often using rating scales or multiple-choice responses. | They can collect quantitative data efficiently from a large sample, but answers may lack depth or be based on misunderstood questions. |
| Focus groups | A moderator guides a discussion involving several representative users. | Interaction can reveal contrasting opinions and generate ideas, but dominant participants or group pressure may influence responses. |
| Field research | Researchers observe and investigate users in the real environment where a product, system or service is used. | It reveals actual behaviour, context and hidden needs, but it can require substantial time and may raise privacy or consent issues. |
A common misconception is that what users say always matches what they do. Interviews and surveys usually collect self-reported data, whereas field research can identify behaviours that users forget, overlook or cannot clearly explain.
