Understand and practice
UX research
Practical guides for people who conduct UX research, hire UX researchers, or want to build research capability in their organizations. Covering methods, roles, hiring, ResearchOps, and how AI is changing the practice.
Foundations of UX research
Before the methods, the hiring decisions, or the tooling — a solid understanding of what UX research is, who does it, and why it matters.
What is UX Research?
The methods, the lifecycle, the difference between qualitative and quantitative, what synthesis actually means, and why research produces better products.
ReadWhat is a UX Researcher?
The skills that separate strong researchers from average ones, how the role varies by seniority and context, and what to look for when evaluating research talent.
ReadWhat is ResearchOps?
How research functions build operational infrastructure — repositories, governance, synthesis workflows, and the organizational memory that makes research compound over time.
ReadFour models for research capability
Organizations access UX research capability in different ways depending on their needs, their maturity, and their budget. Understanding these models helps you make better decisions about research investment.
Embedded staffing
A researcher joins your team much like an internal hire — attending standups, working in your tools, embedded in your product rhythm. The most integrated model; generally structured hourly or as a contract engagement.
Learn about embedded researchFractional research
Reserved capacity at a defined number of hours or days per week or month. Effective when research needs are real but don't justify a full-time placement. Clear hours, fixed availability, genuine team integration.
Learn about fractional researchManaged research projects
A research agency owns the project — from planning through synthesis and delivery. Good for organizations without internal capacity, teams that need an outside perspective, or high-stakes research that needs real ownership.
Learn about research agenciesDirect hire recruiting
Building permanent internal research capacity. A different hiring challenge than most — research work is often confidential, portfolios are thin, and vetting depends on professional history and methodological conversations.
Learn about hiring researchersPractical guidance on UX research
For people making decisions about UX research capability — how to hire researchers, how to structure engagements, what to look for, and how to make research work inside a product organization.
How to Hire a UX Researcher
What to look for, how to evaluate research quality beyond the portfolio, which engagement model fits your needs, and how to set the relationship up for success.
Read the guideHow Much Does UX Research Cost?
What drives UX research costs, what to expect across different engagement models, and how to think about the economics of research investment.
Read the guideHow AI is Changing UX Research
What's actually different about research practice in the AI era — and what isn't. A serious look at transcription, synthesis, facilitation, and the human judgment that remains irreplaceable.
Read the articleGuidance for practicing researchers
Whether you're navigating the job market, thinking about going fractional, or trying to understand how AI is changing your practice — the resources on this site are relevant to researchers as well as the organizations that hire them.
The /ux-researcher/ page covers the role in depth — skills, what separates strong from average, how the role varies by environment. The AI article is written for practitioners as much as buyers.