The Evolution of User Research Methods #HCIExplained
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User research did not always look like Zoom calls, heatmaps, and analytics dashboards. In this episode of HCI Explained, we trace how researchers studied people and technology from the 1980s to today. We explore the rise of usability labs, contextual inquiry, ethnographic fieldwork, remote testing during COVID-19, and the growing role of behavioural analytics in product design. Along the way, we unpack why user research methods changed, what was gained, what was lost, and why modern UX teams increasingly combine interviews, observation, experimentation, and large-scale behavioural data. If you have ever wondered: • Why companies moved away from traditional usability labs • How remote research changed the industry • Why analytics alone cannot explain human behaviour • How researchers choose methods today …this episode is for you. Whether you are new to HCI, a UX student, or an industry practitioner, this episode offers a practical and historical introduction to how user research evolved into what it is today.
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