What is UX?
User Experience (UX) Research is a growing field that involves studying the ways users experience and interact with products and making recommendations to product development teams on how to best make these experiences streamlined and enjoyable. UX research is closely allied to UX design, which involves more graphic design and prototyping skills, although in some contexts the responsibilities overlap. UX researchers typically specialize in either qualitative or quantitative methods, and specialists in both are in high demand. PhD holders in the humanities and social sciences make excellent candidates for these positions because of their strong background in communications, qualitative research methods, ethnography, and human-centered approach to answering questions. PhDs who have transferred to UX research frequently report that this field is intellectually stimulating and rewarding and take pride on the role they get to play in working on products used by people in their everyday lives.
