UX Researcher Checklist: An Analysis of 100 UX Researcher Open Job Postings

UX Researcher Checklist
:

An Analysis of 100 UX Researcher
Job Postings
UX Y’all | September 23rd, 2021
Brian Utesc
h

User Research Practice Lead | IBM Performance Marketing | Raleigh, North Carolina
Theresa Nguye
n

UX Researcher | IBM Automation | Louisville, Kentucky

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IBM / UX Y’all / UX Researcher Checklist / © 2021 IBM Corporation
Goa
l

Provide an objective benchmark o
f

capability for UX Researchers
UX Researchers, regardless of years of
experience or job status, should be evaluating
themselves periodically to ensure that their skill-
set is up-to-date

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What We Did
One source of data for such a comparison is
open job postings where the requirements of
the position, across multiple domains and
industries, offers insights into themes.

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5
Findings

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IBM Studios Böblingen | © IBM Corporation 2021
6
🔬 The UX
Researcher’s Main
Responsibility…
Research, of course
!

• Designing Research
Studie
s

• Conducting Research
Studie
s

• Creating a Research
Roadma
p

• Working in a Design
Thinking and/or Agile
Environment
📈 All the Research
Data Has Been
Gathered…Now What
?

• Analyzing and
Synthesizing Researc
h

• Triangulating Dat
a

• Developing Actionable
Insight
s

• Presenting Insights to
the Team
🖇 Business Acumen
for the UX Researche
r

• Scoping Out Research
Project
s

• Translating Business
Needs into Researc
h

• Influencing Design and
Product Strateg
y

• Being a UX Advocate
👩💻 UX Researcher
Responsibilities That Are
Often Overlooke
d

• Developing Research
Operation
s

• Collaboration and
Mentorshi
p

• Contributing to Work
Cultur
e

• Keeping up-to-date with
UX Research
Methodology
☑ UX Researcher
Checklist

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IBM / UX Y’all / UX Researcher Checklist / © 2021 IBM Corporation 7
• Know how to use method
s

• Knowing when to use
method
s

• Qualitative and
quantitative researc
h

• Skillful in both design/
evaluative and
generative researc
h

Conducting
Research Studies 
85%
• Mapping out what
research projects will be
needed
Creating a Research
Roadmap 
11%
• Agile

• Design Thinkin
g

Ability to Conduct Fast-
Pace Research 
13%
🔬The UX Researcher’s Main
Responsibility…Research, of course!
 
Designing Research
Studies 
59%

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• Synthesize insights from the
data into meaningful themes
 
Analyzing &
Synthesizing Research 
19%
• “See-say-do” triangle
(Still & Crane, 2017
)

Triangulating Data 
33%
• Turn your findings into
actionable insights
Developing
Actionable Insights  
63%
• Communicate the insights in
a compelling way
Presenting Insights to
the Team 
62%
📈All the Research Data Has
Been Gathered…Now What?

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• Breakdown and understand
specific needs
 
Scoping out
Research Projects 
21%
• Translate questions and
recommend a research
approach
Translating Business
Needs into Research 
24%
• Leads to truly user-
centered products
Influence Design and
Product Strategy 
33%, 27%
• Being empathic

• Championing the user

• Evangelizing UX
Being a UX Advocate 
26%
📝Business Acumen for the
UX Researcher

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• Maintaining a consistent
research operation
 
Developing Research
Operations 
41%
• Communicate across
diverse teams
Collaboration &
Mentorship 
84%, 22%
• Helping to promote and
foster a culture of UX
Contribute to the
Work Culture 
12%
• Always have to be learning
and evolving with the field
Keeping up-to-date
with UX Research
Methodology  
13%
👩💻Overlooked UX Researcher
Responsibilities

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• The conviction to hel
p

• Make a differenc
e

• Evangelis
m

• Data-centricity
• Cross-functiona
l

• Cross-metho
d

• Cross-program
• Design solution
s

• Solving problem
s

• Recruiting users
🏆 Skills

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Attitudinal
Quantitative
Qualitative
Generative
Evaluative
Behavioral
🧠 Expertise

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Social sciences
📚 Discipline

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Core
📑 Collaborators

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15
Summary

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Students
 
Job Seekers
 
Experienced
Professionals
 
Job Posters

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IBM Studios Böblingen | © IBM Corporation 2021
17
 
 
Pinpoint responsibilities
that you are lacking or
don’t have access to
 
 
 
Move outside your comfort
zone and conduct research
methods that are new
Develop in-demand soft-
skills that will allow you to
flourish
 
Evaluate yourself
periodically against an
objective benchmark
Making the most of this data

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Want to learn more
?

Check out our Blog Posts on UX Collective
☑ UX Researcher Characteristics: An Analysis of 100 UX Researcher Open Job Posting
s

🔬 The UX Researcher’s Main Responsibility…Research, of course
!

📈 All the Research Data Has Been Gathered…Now What
?

🖇 Business Acumen for the UX Researche
r

👩💻 UX Researcher Responsibilities That Are Often Overlooked

View Slide

Thank you!
Theresa Nguyen

UX Researcher | IBM Automation | Louisville, Kentuck
y

[email protected]
m

Brian Utesc
h

User Research Practice Lead | IBM Performance Marketing | Raleigh, North Carolin
a

[email protected]

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20
Appendix

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Curren
t

UX Researcher, IBM Automatio
n

Previou
s

• Human Factors M.A. from Texas Tech Universit
y

• Former UX Intern at GE Appliance
s

Fun Fac
t

I volunteer at the cat cafe in my free time 🐱
About the Speake
r

Theresa Nguyen

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Curren
t

UX Research Practice Lead, IBM Marketin
g

Previou
s

• Human Factors Psychology, Ph.D. from
Wichita State Universit
y

• Ex-Sprint, Norte
l

Fun Fac
t

I have performed at the Grand Ole Opry 🎶
About the Speake
r

Brian Utesch

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UX Researcher Checklist: An Analysis of 100 UX Researcher Open Job Postings

UX Researcher Checklist: An Analysis of 100 UX Researcher Open Job Postings

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