This article critiques the foundational structure of UX research, asserting that it has been built on superficial methods rather than rigorous, deep analysis. The author compares UX research to bird flocking behavior, emphasizing that individual user insights don't translate into group dynamics. The piece argues that UX research has borrowed techniques from various social sciences without adequately applying their theoretical frameworks, resulting in a research practice that often fails to deliver significant or defendable insights. As the industry faces layoffs, the call for a shift toward deeper methodologies is crucial for revitalizing the discipline.
Most of UX research sticks to surface-level methods. But beneath the surface lies a deeper set of tools from the social sciences - powerful, underused, and long overdue.
It's not just you - something deeper is off. Let's be honest: UX research didn't collapse - it was never solid to begin with.
The system's behavior isn't just the sum of its parts - it's emergent. That means we can't predict what the group will do by only studying individuals.
What we got instead was something that looked analytical but rarely was. Something collaborative, friendly, and workshop-compatible - but not always meaningful.
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