Core Methods
The three primary UX research methods built from Building Blocks: the UX Test, the User Interview, and the Survey. Each represents a different combination of asking, observing, and testing activities.
Definition: The three primary UX research methods built from Building Blocks: the UX Test, the User Interview, and the Survey. Each represents a different combination of asking, observing, and testing activities.
Core Methods are the three primary research methods at the heart of UX research: the UX Test, the User Interview, and the Survey. Each is built from different combinations of the fundamental Building Blocks (Asking, Observing, Testing).
The Three Core Methods
The UX Test is the most comprehensive method, combining all three Building Blocks. You test a user's ability to complete a task (effectiveness) and measure resources expended (efficiency), observe their behavior along the way, and ask questions to understand their experience. This can happen during the session (probing) or at the end (wrap-up).
The User Interview is a method of asking designed for deep exploration. Unlike a UX test where you observe interaction with a product, an interview involves observing how people respond through their non-verbal cues and reactions. Sessions can be conducted one-on-one or as group interviews (sometimes called focus groups in market research).
The Survey is a method of asking at scale using standardized or specifically formulated questions. It sacrifices depth for breadth, allowing you to gather data from larger samples.
Why This Framework Matters
No matter how complex a method sounds—contextual inquiry, diary study, ethnographic research—it can almost always be broken down into a combination of these Building Blocks. Thinking in these abstract terms first simplifies planning and execution, and prevents you from being intimidated by jargon.
Related Terms
Building Blocks
The three foundational research activities—Asking, Observing, and Testing—that combine to form all UX research methods. A framework for understanding that complex methods are built from simple components.
UX Test
A Core Method combining all three Building Blocks: testing task completion (effectiveness and efficiency), observing behavior and non-verbal cues, and asking questions about the experience. The most comprehensive single research method.
User Interview
A Core Method of structured asking designed for deep exploration of user needs, behaviors, and motivations. Distinguished from casual conversation by its defined goals, protocol, and systematic approach.
Survey
A Core Method of asking at scale using standardized questions. Enables data collection from larger samples but sacrifices the depth of interviews for breadth and standardization.
Mentions in the Knowledge Hub
This term is referenced in the following articles:
Research Disciplines: A Practitioner's Map
Market research, UX research, CX research, product research, are these different things? At their core, they are all related methods for gathering data to reduce uncertainty. The key is understanding what each is best suited for.
The Research Process: A Complete Roadmap
Good research is not a series of disconnected activities, it is a cohesive process that transforms business questions into actionable insights. This is the map for that journey.
The Applied Research Framework: How Everything Fits Together
Research disciplines, methods, and principles are not isolated concepts, they form a unified system. Understanding this framework is what separates scattered activities from strategic research practice.
Building Blocks and Core Methods: A Framework for UX Research
No matter how complex a method sounds, it can be broken down into three simple activities. Understanding this framework transforms how you plan and execute research.