Ask Right for Effective Research

Brainstorming sessions can be powerful tools for generating new ideas, but their success often hinges on the foundation of thorough research. A lack of research often leads to unfocused brainstorming, which can lead to several issues, including wasted time, lack of direction and missed opportunities.

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To help you get the most out of your brainstorming sessions, we've designed a Research Topic Brainstorm Template that guides you through the process. Here's a simple step-by-step guide on how to fill in the template for the structured brainstorming:

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Step 1: Define Your User Research Objectives

Begin by clearly outlining your user research objectives. In this section of the template, you should answer the following questions:

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What are the primary pain points that users experience with our current product or service?
What are the key goals and expectations users have when interacting with our platform?
How can we improve the user experience to increase user engagement and retention?
What information do we need to design a more intuitive user interface?
Are there any usability issues that require user testing and feedback?

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Be as specific as possible, focusing on the information that will drive your project forward.

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Step 2: Identify Your User Research Hypotheses

Next, it's time to explore what is already known and the assumptions that have been made about your users' behavior. This section will help you clarify:

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We hypothesize that users abandon the shopping cart due to high shipping costs. How can we validate this assumption and explore potential solutions?
It's assumed that users prefer mobile access to our application during weekends. How can we confirm this and tailor our services accordingly?
We believe that users are frustrated by the lack of clear navigation on our website. How can we investigate this issue and design a more user-friendly navigation system?
Are there unmet needs in our users' online shopping experience, and what innovative features or services could we offer to meet those needs?
We suspect that the lengthy onboarding process deters new users. How can we test this hypothesis and streamline the onboarding process for a smoother user journey?

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Utilize the template to record the existing knowledge, assumptions, and any potential solutions you've identified based on the gaps in your understanding. This step will ensure you build on what you know and address areas where you lack information.

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Step 3: Choose Your User Research Methods

Determine how you will fill the knowledge gaps you've identified. Consider your available resources and select the most suitable research methods to achieve your objectives.

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How will you fill your knowledge gaps?
Based on available resources, which methods will you select?

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Here, you can detail the specific research methods you plan to use, whether it's surveys, interviews, usability testing, or any other approach. Ensure that your chosen methods align with your research objectives and available resources.

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Step 4: Prioritize Your Research Questions

Once you've filled in the template, you'll have a collection of questions, hypotheses, and selected research methods. To make your user research plan more actionable, prioritize 3-5 valuable research questions that will guide your research efforts.

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What are the primary pain points that users experience with our current product or service?
How can we improve the user experience to increase user engagement and retention?
We hypothesize that users abandon the shopping cart due to high shipping costs. How can we validate this assumption and explore potential solutions?
To understand user preferences and pain points, we will conduct one-on-one user interviews.
Are there any usability issues that require user testing and feedback?

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By following these four steps and using the Research Topic Brainstorm Template, you can transform your brainstorming sessions into a structured and effective process for generating user research questions that will lead to valuable insights and improved design outcomes.

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Before you schedule a brainstorming session, you might want to employ time tracking tool, like Time Bot so you can monitor and optimize your meeting time. It ensures that you stay on track and make the most out of every minute, allowing for efficient and productive brainstorming.

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After the successful brainstorming session don't forget to thank everyone and boost team morale, the recognition product such as Karma Bot can help you do that. Recognizing and rewarding contributions from team members can create a positive atmosphere that encourages more participation and creativity.

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Final Word

Don't just brainstorm blindly—do your research, use our template, and take advantage of the innovative tools available to make your employees' lives easier, and your business more successful.