User researcher

We learned in Week 2, user research is a team sport. This means that everyone across the multidisciplinary team should get involved, but it also means that you will frequently find yourself collaborating with other user researchers. ___

What do user researchers do … together?

When user researchers collaborate well, they support each other, avoid duplicating work, and can develop more comprehensive research. They also share research techniques, tools, and templates that improve consistency and quality across teams.

Whether you’re in the same team or working in parallel, building good relationships with other user researchers helps you stay grounded, reflective, and focused on what really matters. Good relationships with user research colleagues can be vital in managing your own wellbeing, as you are able to share experiences, discuss difficult moments and signpost each other to additional support if necessary.

Working in a team of user researchers means that you can divide and delegate tasks within the research plan, assist each other with note-taking or observation, have wider input into your analysis, and conduct research with a larger group of participants. It is also important to hold each other accountable when it comes to maintaining research practice and ethical behaviour, as well as have someone to turn to for advice if you encounter a tricky situation. ___

How to work with other user researchers as a user researcher

User researchers often collaborate on a single research project, running sessions and conducting analysis together.

When you work with other researchers on the same project, you should always start with assigning roles and responsibilities. Strong collaboration relies on mutual trust, fairness, and a balanced distribution of work that plays to each team member’s strengths.

Share your insights early and often, even if you do not yet have the big picture, as your colleagues will be able to provide valuable insights that can assist you as you go further into the research.

You can also collaborate on report writing or compiling slide decks and co-present at research playback sessions. Discuss research methods and approaches and how participants acted within sessions so that you can improve your own approach next time.

Working collaboratively avoids duplication and enables you to develop stronger insights because you can look at the same problem from different angles.

Working with user researchers is also about being open, respectful and helping each other grow as professionals. Working collaboratively can boost each other’s confidence. User researchers come from all different educational and professional backgrounds and you can learn so much by talking to each other. Discuss things with research colleagues, ask questions, give feedback, and make time for reflection.

You should join regular research playbacks, working groups, or communities of practice to improve your research across a department or profession. Be open to opportunities to give and receive hints, tips and feedback.

Most importantly, user researchers can support each other emotionally. As we have learned, user research can be difficult at times, and it is vital that you are supported through these moments. You should never expect colleagues to be your therapist and fix all your problems, but it can be invaluable to talk to someone who has had a similar experience and who understands what you might be feeling, if your colleagues have capacity to help you in that way.