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UX Research Glossary

Essential terms every UX researcher and product designer should know

A

A/B Testing
A controlled experiment comparing two interface versions to measure which performs better.

B

Benchmark Study
Measuring product UX performance against a baseline or competitor to track progress over time.
Behavioural vs. Attitudinal Research
The distinction between what users actually do versus what they say or believe.

C

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.
Customer Segmentation
Dividing users into distinct groups based on shared characteristics, needs, or behaviors.

D

Design Problem Statement
A concise articulation of a user need that frames the design challenge without prescribing a solution.

E

Eye Tracking
Measuring eye movements to understand what users look at and for how long.
Ethnographic Study
Observational research conducted in users' natural environments to understand real behaviors.

F

First Impression Test
Measuring what users notice and understand in the first seconds of seeing an interface.
Focus Group
A facilitated group discussion gathering collective reactions to a concept or product.

G

Gestalt Principles
Visual psychology rules governing how humans perceive and group visual elements.
Guerrilla Testing
Informal, fast usability testing conducted in public places with random participants.

H

Heatmap
A color-coded visual showing areas of click, scroll, or attention density on a page.
Highlight Reel
A short video compilation of key research moments used to communicate insights to stakeholders.
HMW Statement (How Might We)
An ideation prompt that reframes problems as open-ended opportunities for design innovation.

I

Information Architecture
Organizing and structuring content to improve findability and comprehension.
In-Depth Interview (IDI)
A one-on-one conversation exploring a participant's beliefs, motivations, and experiences in detail.

J

Jobs to Be Done (JTBD)
A framework for understanding the underlying motivations behind product usage.

L

Lean UX
A lightweight design approach focusing on rapid hypothesis testing over heavy documentation.
Longitudinal Study
Research conducted over an extended period to track how behaviors or attitudes change over time.

M

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.
Monadic Testing
Testing one concept at a time per participant to get unbiased, absolute reactions.
Mixed-Methods Research
Combining qualitative and quantitative research methods to get a complete view of user behavior.

N

Net Promoter Score (NPS)
A measure of customer loyalty based on likelihood to recommend the product.

P

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.
Product Validation Testing
Research confirming a product concept or feature meets real user needs before full development.
P-Value
A statistical measure indicating the probability that observed results occurred by chance.

Q

Qualitative Data
Non-numerical findings describing user attitudes, emotions, and experiences.

R

Research Interview
A structured or semi-structured conversation to gain deep understanding of user experiences.
Research Operations (ResearchOps)
The processes, tools, and infrastructure that support and scale UX research.
Research Center of Excellence (CoE)
A centralized team that sets standards and enables organization-wide research practice.
Remote User Testing
Usability research conducted online with participants anywhere in the world.

S

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.
Screener Questions
Qualifying questions that filter participants to match a study's target profile.

T

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.

U

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.
User-Centered Design (UCD)
An iterative design process placing user needs and feedback at the center of every decision.
UX Hypothesis
A testable assumption about how a design change will impact user behavior or satisfaction.