Role

UX Researcher

Runs studies and interviews to understand user needs and test design ideas.

12 chaptersAbout 3 months15–30 min a day10 skills2 projects
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Chapter 1 is free. No card needed.

Day 1 on the UX Researcher path.

What a UX Researcher does

Plans and runs user research to learn what people need, then shares clear findings that improve product and service design decisions.

  • Plan research goals, questions, and study plans with the team
  • Recruit participants and schedule interviews, surveys, or usability tests
  • Run interviews and moderated tests to observe real user behavior
  • Analyze notes and data to find patterns, pain points, and needs
  • Create research reports with insights, quotes, and clear recommendations
  • Present findings to designers, product managers, and engineers
  • Maintain research documentation and a library of past learnings

A day in the life

  1. Meet with the team to align on what decisions research must support
  2. Run 1 to 4 user sessions, then write notes and tag key moments
  3. Synthesize findings into themes and update a short readout deck
  4. Share results in a review meeting and agree on next design changes

Tools you will use

Prototyping: FigmaSurveys: Google Forms, TypeformUser testing: UserTesting, LookbackVideo calls: Zoom, Google MeetAnalysis: Excel, Google SheetsDocumentation: Notion, Confluence

Your plan

Chapter by chapter.

1~1 wk

See what UX researcher work involves

StartFree
2~1 wk

Research methods and studies

Skills
31–2 wks

Make end-to-end case study from problem to tested prototype

Proof
4~1 wk

Meet people who do UX researcher work

People
5~1 wk

Insight and design critique

Skills
6~1 wk

Content and communication framing

Skills
7~1 wk

Stakeholders and collaboration

Skills
8~1 wk

Resilience and delivery

Skills
91–2 wks

Make service blueprint and redesign of a real local service

Proof
10~1 wk

Practise role interviews

Interview
11~1 wk

Choose a route into UX researcher work

Decide
12on your timeline

Apply for roles

Apply

By the last chapter

This is what you can show.

Things you've made

End-to-end case study from problem to tested prototype and Service blueprint and redesign of a real local service

Skills you can prove

10 skills, each rated on work you actually did.

People you've talked to

3 people who do the job, with a message ready for each.

Questions you can answer

20 interview questions and a mock interview, with feedback.

Credentials

5 credentials compared, so you can pick one, or decide you don't need one. None is required.

Ways in

There is more than one route.

Ways to study

  • Bachelors in psychology, human computer interaction, design, sociology, or anthropology
  • Diploma or certificate in UX research or user experience
  • Short courses in research methods, statistics basics, and usability testing
  • Portfolio-based self-study with mentored projects and real user studies

How people get their first job

  • Apply for UX research internships or product research internships
  • Start in customer support or community roles and move into research tasks
  • Assist a UX researcher as a research coordinator or research assistant
  • Build a small research portfolio with 2 to 3 case studies and writeups
  • Volunteer to run usability tests for a student club or local nonprofit

Life skills on this path: Networking · Job interviews · Job search

How the work is changing

What AI is doing to this role

How AI is changing this role · one of 5 tasks we track

Design research studies and choose methods

Lightly changed

What AI does

AI suggests methods and screener questions from your research goals.

Still yours

Deciding what question is worth asking is still yours.

Reviewed September 2026

In the app · Premium

The rest is in the app

  • How AI affects the other 4 tasks
  • Whether this job is growing or shrinking
  • How hard the first job is to get
  • Similar roles that are easier to get into
  • Updated every month, with sources
See it in the app →

How we rate a job →

Already working

Already a UX Researcher?

Plan your move to Senior UX Researcher: 9 chapters that end with a strong case for your next review.

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Questions

Questions about this path

How long does it take to become a ux researcher with Welica?

The path is 12 chapters, 3 months at 15 to 30 minutes a day. You can go faster or slower; the plan moves with you.

Do I need a degree?

Not always. Common routes are bachelors in psychology, human computer interaction, design, sociology, or anthropology, diploma or certificate in UX research or user experience, short courses in research methods, statistics basics, and usability testing, or portfolio-based self-study with mentored projects and real user studies.

What is free?

Chapter 1, See what UX researcher work involves, is free for good. Premium unlocks the rest of the path.

Start the UX Researcher path.

Chapter 1 free. About 15 to 30 minutes a day.

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