What does a user experience researcher do?

A user experience (UX) researcher is an individual who is responsible for analyzing actual consumer behavior and needs to design products and services that may have an impact on business companies. User experience researchers provide informed insights and then work with product managers to turn these insights into consumer-centric results that resonate with customers. They are required to conduct in-depth and advanced research both in qualitative and quantitative methods to identify user needs and goals and provide recommendations for improvement. User experience researchers are also required to participate in the recruitment activities for user research.
User experience researcher responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real user experience researcher resumes:
- Lead a team of researchers charge with the development of new homogeneous catalysis and process chemistry technologies.
- Lead focus group sessions of 4-6 study participants, code transcripts of sessions, and analyze data using STATA.
- Create Linux shell scripts to automate common process which severely reduce manual work load and processing time for the entire lab.
- Conduct RNA/DNA isolation technique experiments; perform RT-PCR and DNA gels for analysis.
- Authore and conduct interviews, usability tests, focus groups, surveys, and A/B tests.
- Command applied catalyst research projects by computer chemistry tools.
- Test IOLs in accordance with ISO 11979-3 test method.
- Post program experience with TensorFlow.
- Obtain and submit mosquito blood samples for PCR testing.
- Maintain clients' social networking sites - - Facebook and Pinterest.
- Utilize an online survey system, Qualtrics, to generate all results.
- Prepare PowerPoint presentation, brochure, movies & music and event booth.
- Involve with assay design, troubleshooting, data analysis, and QC.
- Time mostly spend creating Balsamiq mockups and a bit of WPF design in Blend/VisualStudio.
- Design new protocols for PCR, DNA extraction, and dehydration of shrimp specimen.
User experience researcher skills and personality traits
We calculated that 11% of User Experience Researchers are proficient in User Research, User Experience, and Research Methods. They’re also known for soft skills such as Detail oriented, Analytical skills, and Communication skills.
We break down the percentage of User Experience Researchers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- User Research, 11%
Lead user research initiatives to identify user requirements and inform product development strategies for cross-functional teams.
- User Experience, 9%
Used generative and evaluative research methods to inform user experience strategy and business opportunities for enterprise applications.
- Research Methods, 8%
Research methods included interviews, surveys and usability testing to identify content that will delight practitioners.
- Research Findings, 6%
Analyzed research findings to provide sustainable, culturally sensitive alternatives to revert pollution trends and prevent future environmental degradation.
- Quantitative Research, 4%
Conducted extensive qualitative and quantitative research in cross-cultural education at Webster and Murdoch University business schools in Thailand and Australia.
- Design Research, 4%
Lead global design research and UX strategic planning focusing on connectivity and advanced design innovations.
"user research," "user experience," and "research methods" are among the most common skills that user experience researchers use at work. You can find even more user experience researcher responsibilities below, including:
Detail oriented. One of the key soft skills for a user experience researcher to have is detail oriented. You can see how this relates to what user experience researchers do because "market research analysts must pay attention to minutiae to evaluate data." Additionally, a user experience researcher resume shows how user experience researchers use detail oriented: "developed date time picker using object oriented javascript extensively. "
Analytical skills. Many user experience researcher duties rely on analytical skills. "market research analysts must evaluate large amounts of data and information related to market conditions.," so a user experience researcher will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways user experience researcher responsibilities rely on analytical skills: "reorganized data for clients using information visualization techniques streamlined and branded presentations and office identity. "
Communication skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of user experience researchers is communication skills. This skill is critical to many everyday user experience researcher duties, as "market research analysts must be able to clearly convey information when gathering material, interpreting data, and presenting results to clients." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "created communication methods to share study results which increased transparency in design decisions. "
The three companies that hire the most user experience researchers are:
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User experience researcher vs. Marketing department internship
A marketing department internship is a marketing degree program requirement in most colleges. This is the work experience period where interns get to apply the knowledge they acquire in the real world. In this period, marketing interns provide administrative support to the marketing department of the company. The duties may include data entry, preparation of marketing materials, and managing the company's website. Also, interns are tasked to research and collect data, then analyze findings with an experienced marketing representative's supervision.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between user experience researchers and marketing department internship. For instance, user experience researcher responsibilities require skills such as "user research," "user experience," "research methods," and "research findings." Whereas a marketing department internship is skilled in "financial statements," "powerpoint," "press releases," and "facebook." This is part of what separates the two careers.
On average, marketing department interns reach lower levels of education than user experience researchers. Marketing department interns are 10.8% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 3.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.User experience researcher vs. Marketing internship
Marketing interns are usually marketing students or fresh graduates who are interested in getting actual work experiences before taking on a full-time job. They usually have an interest or academic background related to marketing. They assist marketing teams in most of their daily activities, sit in their meetings, record minutes of these meetings, take note of action plans, and attend other events related to marketing. They also assist in preparing collateral and other marketing materials, join brainstorming sessions, or any other activity that will help enrich their experience.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real user experience researcher resumes. While user experience researcher responsibilities can utilize skills like "user research," "user experience," "research methods," and "research findings," marketing interns use skills like "digital marketing," "powerpoint," "facebook," and "marketing campaigns."
Marketing interns earn a lower average salary than user experience researchers. But marketing interns earn the highest pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $33,333. Additionally, user experience researchers earn the highest salaries in the start-up with average pay of $118,075 annually.In general, marketing interns achieve lower levels of education than user experience researchers. They're 15.8% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 3.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.User experience researcher vs. Marketing consultant
A marketing consultant is responsible for utilizing their extensive retail expertise to develop strategies on how to strengthen client base and achieve better sales. Furthermore, a marketing consultant must perform research and analysis to determine opportunities for financial gains, devise plans to improve client satisfaction, assess the competition, look out for any risks, and develop its brand and image. They should also ensure that all steps taken adhere to the policies and regulations of the organization.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from user experience researcher resumes include skills like "user research," "user experience," "research methods," and "research findings," whereas a marketing consultant is more likely to list skills in "customer service," "web content," "media sales," and "digital marketing. "
Marketing consultants earn the best pay in the technology industry, where they command an average salary of $93,209. User experience researchers earn the highest pay from the start-up industry, with an average salary of $118,075.marketing consultants typically earn lower educational levels compared to user experience researchers. Specifically, they're 8.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 4.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.User experience researcher vs. Marketing assistant
A marketing assistant's general responsibility is to support the marketing programs and campaigns by sharing recommendations and useful insights to improve the brand's image. Marketing assistants' duties also include reaching out to other personnel for necessary files needed on promotional advertisements, assist the team in creating designs and developing content, publishing brochures for potential clients, analyzing sales reports, and researching the current market trends. A marketing assistant should have excellent organizational and time-management skills to meet deadlines and perform various tasks as required.
Types of user experience researcher
Updated January 8, 2025











