Tools Supporting Remote UX Research

Tools Supporting Remote UX Research

The coronavirus situation forced most companies to switch to remote work mode. This also applies to user research. Although researchers value direct contact with respondents, the unusual conditions made remote research applications a key tool.

The Need for a Compilation of Available Tools

Choosing Tools for Remote Research

Moderated research (i.e., conducted live with a moderator) as well as in-depth interviews or focus groups can also be conducted using popular video conferencing tools such as Zoom, Google Meet, or Whereby. However, if we expect more (e.g., the option to configure unmoderated task-based tests or card sorting), it is worth reaching for specialized tools such as Lookback, UserTesting, UserZoom, and others. Although they may seem similar, there are many differences between them that affect the researcher's work.

Until now, there was no compilation that simply presented the most important features of available tools, so e-point conducted an analysis of them. The result is a review that takes into account all available functions of individual programs.

Which Features of Research Tools Are Worth Paying Attention To?

e-point Analysis and Scope of Comparison

The review prepared by e-point includes 12 available programs and platforms designed specifically for conducting research. In their selection, the authors were guided by their own experiences as well as the popularity and trust that these tools enjoy among researchers speaking in industry websites, social media groups, or internet forums.

Key Features and Additional Modules

The analysis primarily took into account the features that e-point researchers themselves cared about most, namely:

• the ability to conduct moderated research,
• the ability to record and edit video,
• the ability to stream the research (e.g., to a client),
• simple installation by the respondent.

However, these are not all the possibilities that proven applications offer. Many of them have specialized modules for conducting specific types of research (e.g., card sorting or tree testing) and generating heatmaps. In Polish conditions, instructions for respondents in the native language may also prove important.

Most of the included solutions also support respondent recruitment. If we want to conduct quick recruitment according to uncomplicated criteria, and the studied project is in English, such a function will certainly prove helpful.

Some of the tools have additional functions that were not included but may prove particularly useful in certain applications. These include, among others, a calendar of scheduled research, transcription of recordings, or integration with prototyping tools such as Sketch, Figma, Axure RP, and InVision.

Compilation as Support for Companies

Ultimately, the compilation included 18 features for comparison, which according to the e-point team were the most important and most universal. Of course, price is one of them. The results were presented in the form of a practical table, thanks to which various tools can be easily compared according to the most important features. The compilation will certainly be useful for companies starting their adventure with remote research, as well as for more advanced ones who may find a few inspirations to expand their work toolkit.

An Alternative to Traditional Research

The compilation shows only the most popular tools. More will certainly appear, and those currently on the market will be improved. Even today, one can see how quickly the providers of these solutions reacted to the crisis situation, by providing educational materials and organizing webinars on organizing remote research. Thus, they have become a promising alternative to traditional ones - they can be cheaper, faster, and more effective. For now, however, they are simply the only safe option for researchers and respondents.

About the author: Ula Malewska - UX Designer & Researcher at e-point SA. She has over 10 years of professional experience in the IT industry. At e-point, she designs and researches portals, news services, and e-commerce. She treats user research as an inseparable element of the design process. She has conducted research for clients such as: ING Bank Śląski, Bank Pekao, Allianz, RTV EURO AGD, BIK, Bank Pocztowy, Aleo, Leifheit.

Summary

The article discusses tools for remote UX research, which gained importance during the pandemic. In addition to popular video conferencing applications such as Zoom or Google Meet, the authors point to specialized platforms: Lookback, UserTesting, or UserZoom. The e-point company conducted an analysis of 12 programs, comparing them according to 18 features, including the ability to conduct moderated research, video recording, or respondent recruitment.

The compilation also includes additional functions, such as transcription of recordings or integration with prototyping tools. As the author, Ula Malewska, notes, remote research is becoming a cheaper and faster alternative to traditional methods, and under current conditions, it is the only safe option for researchers and participants.