# User Research Methods

- Institution: IIT Guwahati
- Department: Engineering Design
- Teacher: Prof. Sharmistha Banerjee
- Level: Undergraduate
- Language: English
- Subjects: Engineering, Art, architecture and design
- Source: [NPTEL](https://nptel.ac.in/courses/107103001)
- Licence: [CC BY-NC-SA](https://nptel.ac.in/faq) (Non-commercial use only.)
- Syllabus: [at the source](https://nptel.ac.in/courses/107103001)
- Who can watch: Tweens profiles and older (sources give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the source's own words)

User Research Methods is a comprehensive course that equips learners with essential techniques for understanding users, identifying design opportunities, and solving complex problems in human-centered design. Through systematic exploration of both qualitative and quantitative research methods—including contextual inquiry, ethnographic observation, participatory design, and statistical analysis—students will learn to gather, analyze, and synthesize user insights effectively. The course emphasizes understanding emotional and cultural dimensions of user experience, sensorial modalities, cognitive processes, and practical application of research tools such as empathy mapping, personas, scenario building, and the AEIOU framework. By the end of this course, participants will be proficient in conducting rigorous user research that informs evidence-based design decisions and drives innovation in products, services, and systems.

Intended audience: This course is designed for undergraduate and postgraduate students in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, Psychology, and related disciplines. It is also suitable for UX/UI professionals, product designers, product managers, researchers, and anyone involved in human-centered design and product development who wants to strengthen their user research skills.

Prerequisites: Basic understanding of design principles and research methodology is helpful but not mandatory. Familiarity with qualitative and quantitative research concepts is beneficial. No programming knowledge is required. Students should have curiosity about human behavior and user-centered design.

## Lectures

1. [What is User Research? Importance and Scope](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/4b05b66a4535) (YouTube)
2. [Research Paradigms: Qualitative vs Quantitative](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/cd526d16a3e6) (YouTube)
3. [Overview of Common User Research Methods](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/dda6b7914863) (YouTube)
4. [Planning a User Research Study](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/d17d4ebdec35) (YouTube)
5. [Ethical Considerations in User Research](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/21cf72c49d75) (YouTube)
6. [User Needs & Requirements](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/0f8eb93ba18b) (YouTube)
7. [Stakeholder Analysis](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/159585283941) (YouTube)
8. [Data Collection Methods & Contexts](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/dc8a76db0ce4) (YouTube)
9. [Sampling Strategies](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/0b69928204ff) (YouTube)
10. [Research Design](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/0caeacce0528) (YouTube)
11. [Principles of Contextual Inquiry](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/dd0c48245b00) (YouTube)
12. [Conducting Field Observations](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/253c5f159388) (YouTube)
13. [Remote and Distributed Interviews](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/1209ad9e5fcd) (YouTube)
14. [Focus Groups](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/bebaff2de574) (YouTube)
15. [Interview Analysis and Coding](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/5e71039398cc) (YouTube)
16. [Foundations of Ethnography](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/2d5f61e0622f) (YouTube)
17. [Participant Observation](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/c8455ededfaf) (YouTube)
18. [Field Notes & Documentation](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/b76ded48e50a) (YouTube)
19. [Video Ethnography](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/9497b5a03007) (YouTube)
20. [Ethnographic Analysis](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/1ecb43453c48) (YouTube)
21. [Emotion in User Experience Design](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/e62bc44fab47) (YouTube)
22. [Designing for Emotions & Affective Computing](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/546202c91a07) (YouTube)
23. [Cultural Dimensions in Design](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/f55476c1b260) (YouTube)
24. [Hall's Communication Context Model](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/0eabb9f9a9e8) (YouTube)
25. [Inclusive Design: From Principles to Practice](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/b17f0043b8f5) (YouTube)
26. [Visual Perception](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/dfa1b25d79d6) (YouTube)
27. [Cognitive Load](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/aa823d239ea9) (YouTube)
28. [Attention & Memory](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/51aea937dabd) (YouTube)
29. [Multimodal Design](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/993935d02230) (YouTube)
30. [Context of Use & Design](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/86180da0cbb7) (YouTube)
31. [Participatory Design & Co-Design](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/581d2ad1ec1c) (YouTube)
32. [Foundations of Usability Evaluation](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/b1df40f71b3d) (YouTube)
33. [Heuristic Evaluation - Part 1: Nielsen's Ten Heuristics](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/f9973855bfcd) (YouTube)
34. [Heuristic Evaluation - Part 2: Process, Severity Rating & Case Study](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/ddb0fc3303a7) (YouTube)
35. [Think-Aloud Protocol](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/d8a925aa7602) (YouTube)
36. [Cognitive Walkthrough](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/c8b635e1985e) (YouTube)
37. [Introduction to Gamestorming](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/d33dc571303e) (YouTube)
38. [Gamestorming Techniques](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/9898d24a406d) (YouTube)
39. [Cultural Probes](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/62e5a9a2bcae) (YouTube)
40. [Rapid Prototyping](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/ad627f8ad037) (YouTube)
41. [Design Sprints](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/c37d93e4a549) (YouTube)
42. [Interviewing](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/b30f55a17975) (YouTube)
43. [Narrative & Storytelling Methods](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/99598afb71d3) (YouTube)
44. [Diary Studies & Self-Documentation](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/87cc87bacb92) (YouTube)
45. [Artifact Analysis](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/ca60fb8294eb) (YouTube)
46. [Photo & Video Elicitation](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/87abcb569e16) (YouTube)
47. [From Themes to Insights: Insight Statements & How-Might-We](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/6f463e71d759) (YouTube)
48. [Affinity Mapping](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/7c45765e9f69) (YouTube)
49. [Cause-Effect Analysis](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/0a0a7b6d334d) (YouTube)
50. [Triangulation & Insight Quality](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/6452d347373f) (YouTube)
51. [Communicating Insights: Storytelling, One-Pagers & Repositories](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/dab14db89de0) (YouTube)
52. [Quantitative Data: Types, Measurement & Preparation](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/41f41e744fdb) (YouTube)
53. [Descriptive Statistics](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/88a99b8a78cf) (YouTube)
54. [Inferential Statistics & Hypothesis Testing](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/9943f0301e8b) (YouTube)
55. [Statistical Tests and Mixed Methods](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/2511b29ae84c) (YouTube)
56. [Questionnaire Design & Scaling Techniques](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/5dcb85c42a4e) (YouTube)
57. [Quantitative UX Metrics & A/B Testing](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/ba5d1de82a01) (YouTube)
58. [From Insight to Artefact: The Outcomes of User Research](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/ad8a71ee3b11) (YouTube)
59. [Persona Development](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/04b55433cd2b) (YouTube)
60. [Scenario Building](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/b4ecbed51a0e) (YouTube)
61. [Journey Mapping](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/38663e92425e) (YouTube)
62. [Task Analysis](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/f7ff78669e40) (YouTube)
63. [The Design Brief & Design Requirements](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/70d22d0f27ca) (YouTube)
64. [Case Study Part 1](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/c4bdc9ecfcd0) (YouTube)
65. [Case Study Part 2](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/7b03d357174e) (YouTube)
66. [Case Study Part 3](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/nptel/107103001/d412ff67028c) (YouTube)