My research approach 

I am grounded in User-Centered Design, and I seek to involve end user input throughout all stages of product development. This requires cross-functional collaboration, and I value working closely with UX design and product teams to make sure the voice of the user is being heard. There can be opportunities for insight across an organization, so I think it is also valuable to engage with market research and data science teams.

Study Planning

When planning any particular research study, I generally take a 5-step approach of (1) defining Objectives and what is trying to be learned, (2) forming Hypotheses based on what is known and previous research, (3) selecting Methods best suited to answer the research questions while considering the time and resources available, (4) Conducting research in a controlled and hopefully unbiased way, and (5) Synthesizing findings and conveying recommendations that are clear, efficient, and actionable.

Additional Considerations

These are some of the guidelines I try follow based on my experiences as a user researcher and elsewhere:

Be Flexible. Goals change and things don't go as planned. Be ready to pivot with users and other stakeholders.

Stay User-Centered, but... Start with your end user, but don't forget to consider the needs and goals of the business. 

Include Primary Data. The best kind of data is the primary kind–straight from the user. Other data can get lost in translation, or assumptions can get made that may be inaccurate and mislead a team.

Think Big-Picture. Don't forget the research scope or the immediate questions to test, but pay attention to the edges. Remember that the product or situation you are looking at is part of a larger user journey.

Test Early and Often. Waiting on that first user test until just prior to a beta release is better than nothing, but issues found at that stage are much more costly to address than if you put had the design in front of a user much earlier.

Measuring is Key. Always think about how to capture the data in meaningful ways that drive action now, but also enable comparisons against future designs.

Mixed Methods. Try for multiple qualitative and quantitative methods to strengthen your data and triangulate findings. If you hang your hat on one method, you run the risk of being precise but not accurate. The goal is to be both.