UX Research Glossary

Card Sorting

A research technique to understand how users group information into logical categories.

Cognitive Walkthrough

A usability evaluation simulating a user's thought process step by step through a task.

Eye Tracking

Measuring eye movements to understand what users look at and for how long.

First Impression Test

Measuring what users notice and understand in the first seconds of seeing an interface.

Heatmap

A color-coded visual showing areas of click, scroll, or attention density on a page.

Information Architecture

Organizing and structuring content to improve findability and comprehension.

Jobs to Be Done (JTBD)

A framework for understanding the underlying motivations behind product usage.

Moderated Testing

A testing session with a facilitator who guides participants and asks questions in real time.

MVP Testing

Validating assumptions as early as possible using the simplest testable version of a product.

Net Promoter Score (NPS)

A measure of customer loyalty based on likelihood to recommend the product.

Prototype Testing

Evaluating an interactive product model before launch to uncover issues early.

Preference Test

Comparing two or more designs to learn which option users prefer.

Participant Panel

A pool of pre-registered users ready to participate in research studies.

Research Interview

A structured or semi-structured conversation to gain deep understanding of user experiences.

Survey

A quantitative research tool for gathering data from a large number of participants.

System Usability Scale (SUS)

A standardized 10-question questionnaire for measuring overall usability.

SUPR-Q

An 8-item standardized questionnaire for measuring website user experience quality.

Tree Testing

Evaluating findability in a navigation structure without visual design distractions.

Think-Aloud Protocol

Asking participants to verbalize their thoughts while performing tasks.

Task Success Rate

The percentage of users who successfully completed a specific task.

Top Task Analysis

Identifying the most important tasks users want to accomplish on a site or app.

Usability Testing

Evaluating a product by watching real users perform specific tasks.

User Research

The systematic process of studying target users to inform design decisions.

UX Research

In-depth study of user experiences with products to improve design and interaction.

Unmoderated Testing

Testing where participants complete tasks independently without a facilitator present.