False findings and FOMO

This week from People Nerds: We share tips for avoiding false insights and leverage user research to make career decisions.

Oh no, what if these findings aren't the answer? It's important to remember that as user researchers, we're here to bridge the gap between our users and our organization. We aim to better understand who these individuals are, not take their answers as literal strategic next steps. Recognizing some common research mistakes helps us to avoid creating false insights.   BIAS, WE MEET AGAIN Results from last week's community poll (n = 182) My stakeholders most often have questions/concerns about which of the following:   38.5% | Sample size 25.8% | Significance of findings 22.0% | Applicability of insights 13.7% | Validity/reliability of methods This offer is okay...but what if there's something better? Accepting a job offer can feel very high stakes. When looking for stability, it's easy to make a fear-based decision and jump at the first opportunity. Instead of letting your emotions get the best of you, try tapping into your research skills to make a more objective decision.   SAY NO TO GOOD, YES TO GREAT Just as we coach our participants and create the space for openness, we can create a practice that promotes better listening in our work. XIMENA VENGOECHEA Author and Speaker READ MORE More we're discussing:  Participant consent is more than just a box to check off your list—especially when asking about sensitive topics. "How do you know user research is valid?" Explore the different types of validity, how they can be threatened, and ways to make your study more valid. What we're hearing: Can we predict the behavior of our users? Olga Boichuk shared some intersections between psychology and design, and how to leverage them. Is your UI niche? Designsolo compares the risks and rewards of designing for a smaller set of folks. dscout is a company composed of People Nerds working to make context-rich human insight an everyday habit across organizations. The dscout platform—Diary, Live, Recruit, and Express—enables remote qualitative research that brings researchers into the moments experienced and shared by real people. Curious about the platform or working with dscout? Talk to an account executive.  dscout, 222 North LaSalle St. Suite 650, Chicago, Illinois 60601, (312) 880-9715 Unsubscribe Manage preferences