Introducing the two-hour research plan (really!)
Draft your research plan in two hours (really!)
I think it’s fair to say the importance of planning has been drilled into our collective consciousness. Business gurus tell us to “plan your work, then work your plan” and “when you fail to plan, you plan to fail!” And I absolutely agree that a solid plan is key to the success of any UX research study.
So it might shock you (at first, anyway) when I tell you I never spend more than TWO HOURS on the first draft of my user research plan. Here’s why:
My first draft is intended as a solid foundation, not a finished product
As the researcher, my role in the beginning of a project is like the role of an engineer building a house. I know my stakeholders’ overall needs, and I’m going to make sure the foundation is solid: it’s the right size, it’s got the required number of rooms. And like the engineer brings her expertise around load-bearing walls and beams, I’m bringing my research expertise to make sure the study has the core elements to be successful. But I’m not going to design and furnish this thing just yet, or do it alone.
Early stakeholder participation builds buy-in and credibility
Just like houses with the same solid floor plan can be used in myriad ways, every UX research study is unique. So from the first draft of my plan, I want my stakeholders involved, contributing their assumptions and ideas and helping to tweak the details. My two-hour draft starts the feedback loop. I confirm what we want to learn and how the learnings will be applied. I re-affirm that the research goals support the business goals. I want it to be clear that their input is very much needed; that I’m listening and it’s not too late to flex this plan to meet their needs. I want the plan to feel like OUR plan, not MY plan.
Identifying disparate views early helps align the team
Often, when I share that first research plan draft with the team, it starts a conversation that reveals individual stakeholders held different goals or expectations for the study. (I thought we all agreed the bonus room would be a theater!) This multidisciplinary approach to planning allows us to re-align early in the process, before time and money are invested in asking the wrong questions, to the wrong people, or in the wrong way!
I want to create a collaborative atmosphere
Some might think it’s a little crazy to kick off a study with a quickly produced work product. But a big part of my intention is to start a conversation. While I offer research expertise, I am not the all-knowing-judge-and-jury-of-all-things around this study’s topic. I want to inspire the study team to share their collective knowledge without fear of being judged, so I’m leading by example by presenting an initial plan that asks for their input.
This makes the plan a living document
As you start to live with what you’ve built, agreements are reached, new needs are identified and adjustments should be made. Because our research plan started as a collaborative, flexible effort, it’s seen as a living document that can absorb those inevitable changes. We iterate on the plan just like we iterate when developing products and services. What started as a two-hour draft develops over time, and the updates are shared with the team in real time as the study progresses.
And if you (or your stakeholders) can’t spare the time to plan …
Just stop. Simply put, if you don't have two hours to draft a plan, you probably shouldn't be running the study. And if your stakeholders do not have time to review and provide input into the plan, you probably shouldn’t be running the study, either — because what the research delivers will likely miss the mark if they are not involved.
User research is a team sport! It takes time, effort and collaboration to conduct the study and apply the learnings. This means stakeholders must invest the time to actively participate by:
Contributing to the plan, prioritizing questions and ensuring they tie to the business goals
Providing feedback on the recruiting and other activities
Reviewing at least two sessions (ideally, so researchers hear feedback first hand)
Participating in analysis and synthesis
Sharing what was learned with the broader team
Acting on the learnings!
Your role as the researcher is player and coach and cheerleader -- but you won’t have success going solo. Starting the process with a research plan that involves everyone is an excellent way to ensure you’re all committed to the process, pulling together, and working towards the same goal post.
This week, the Fall ’21 Ask Like A Pro cohort are drafting their research plans and gathering stakeholder feedback. This plan becomes the backbone of their research project, and students will leverage it (in its constantly updated form) to build their participant screeners and to inform their discussion guides and other important strategies and tactics as they complete their research studies throughout the workshop series.
It’s not too late to join us in this cohort
Our All-in seats are sold out for Fall ’21, but you can still join this cohort as an Observer, and have a fresh credential to show off before Thanksgiving! Click here to learn more about Ask Like A Pro.
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Ask us questions related to user research. Seriously, bad research keeps us up at night!
And that’s a wrap!
We try to alternate between a theme and UX/UXR jobs, events, classes, articles, and other happenings every few weeks. What do you think? We're constantly iterating and would still love to hear your input.
Stay curious,
- Michele and the Curiosity Tank team
PS: Each user research workshop in the Ask Like A Pro series builds on the previous one, moving you sequentially through the research process. If you can only take one class, or don’t know where to start, begin with PLAN. It sets the tone, and mindset, for your entire research experience and for the series.
