# UX Research Plan

## Study Info

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| **Study Name** | [Descriptive name] |
| **Researcher** | [Name] |
| **Stakeholders** | [Names/roles] |
| **Status** | Planning / In Field / Analysis / Complete |
| **Timeline** | [Start Date] - [End Date] |

---

## Research Questions

What do we need to learn? List 3-5 specific, answerable questions.

1. [Primary question - the most important thing to learn]
2. [Secondary question]
3. [Secondary question]
4. [Exploratory question - nice to know]
5. [Exploratory question - nice to know]

### What We Already Know
[Summarize existing knowledge, past research, analytics data, assumptions to validate.]

### What We Do Not Know
[List specific knowledge gaps this study will address.]

---

## Methodology

**Method:** [Usability Testing / User Interviews / Survey / Diary Study / Card Sorting / A/B Test / Contextual Inquiry]

**Justification:** [Why this method is appropriate for the research questions.]

**Approach:** [Moderated / Unmoderated / Remote / In-Person]

**Duration:** [Session length per participant]

**Tools:** [Platform/tools used - e.g., Lookback, Maze, UserTesting, Zoom]

---

## Participant Criteria

### Target Participants

| Criterion | Requirement |
|-----------|------------|
| **User type** | [e.g., Active users, churned users, prospects] |
| **Role/title** | [e.g., Product managers, developers] |
| **Experience level** | [e.g., 1+ years using similar products] |
| **Company size** | [e.g., 50-500 employees] |
| **Geography** | [e.g., US-based, English-speaking] |

### Screening Questions
1. [Question to verify participant meets criteria]
2. [Question to verify participant meets criteria]
3. [Question to ensure diversity of perspectives]

### Exclusion Criteria
- [e.g., Current employees or family of employees]
- [e.g., Participants in a study within the last 6 months]

### Sample Size
- **Target:** [Number] participants
- **Justification:** [e.g., "5 participants identify ~80% of usability issues" or "Statistical significance requires N=200 for survey"]

---

## Recruitment Plan

| Channel | Target Count | Timeline | Incentive |
|---------|-------------|----------|-----------|
| [Customer database] | [N] | [Dates] | [$Amount or type] |
| [User panel] | [N] | [Dates] | [$Amount or type] |
| [Social media] | [N] | [Dates] | [$Amount or type] |

### Incentive
- **Amount:** [$X per session or equivalent]
- **Form:** [Gift card, account credit, donation to charity]
- **Distribution:** [Immediately after session / within 5 business days]

---

## Interview / Test Guide

### Introduction (5 minutes)
- Welcome and thank participant
- Explain purpose (learning, not testing them)
- Confirm consent and recording permission
- Set expectations for session duration

### Warm-Up Questions (5 minutes)
1. [Background question about their role/context]
2. [Question about current workflow/tools]

### Core Tasks / Questions (30-40 minutes)

**Task 1:** [Description of task or topic area]
- [Specific prompt or scenario]
- [Follow-up probes]

**Task 2:** [Description of task or topic area]
- [Specific prompt or scenario]
- [Follow-up probes]

**Task 3:** [Description of task or topic area]
- [Specific prompt or scenario]
- [Follow-up probes]

### Wrap-Up (5 minutes)
- Overall impressions
- Anything we did not ask about that they want to share
- Thank participant and explain next steps

---

## Analysis Framework

### Data Collection
- [ ] Session recordings stored securely
- [ ] Notes taken during each session
- [ ] Observations tagged by research question

### Analysis Method
- **Affinity mapping:** Group observations into themes
- **Task success rate:** [For usability tests] Completion rate per task
- **Severity rating:** [For issues] Critical / Major / Minor / Cosmetic
- **Quantitative analysis:** [For surveys] Statistical analysis plan

### Synthesis Approach
1. Review all session notes and recordings
2. Identify patterns and themes across participants
3. Map findings to research questions
4. Prioritize findings by impact and frequency
5. Develop actionable recommendations

---

## Timeline

| Phase | Dates | Activities |
|-------|-------|-----------|
| Planning | [Week 1] | Finalize plan, create guide, prepare materials |
| Recruitment | [Week 1-2] | Screen and schedule participants |
| Fieldwork | [Week 2-3] | Conduct sessions |
| Analysis | [Week 3-4] | Synthesize findings |
| Reporting | [Week 4] | Create report, present to stakeholders |

---

## Deliverables

- [ ] Research findings report (key insights, evidence, recommendations)
- [ ] Presentation deck for stakeholders
- [ ] Highlight reel of key moments (if recorded)
- [ ] Actionable recommendations prioritized by impact
- [ ] Raw data archive (notes, recordings) stored per data policy
