6 overlooked UX research mistakes many make (but you don't have to)

Have you ever found yourself pouring hours into a research project, only to have your insights met with skepticism or indifference from stakeholders?

Unfortunately, this is a reality many UX researchers face, regardless of their experience level or the quality of their work. In this article, I’ll share six easily overlooked pitfalls, drawing from experience working with over 40 UX research teams across various industries. Become a more impactful researcher by learning how to spot and avoid these mistakes most UX research teams make.

1. Not setting the stage for research enough

While some companies have very mature UX research practices, many are still in the early stages where researchers must constantly advocate for themselves and their work. One universal reality I’ve observed is that simply showing up and delivering good work isn’t enough. People are busy with their own responsibilities and need frequent reminders that research is a crucial part of the process, adds significant value, and ultimately saves time, effort, and money in the long run.

To address this, consider the following strategies:

• Showcase your projects whenever possible: Take advantage of department meetings, UX events, and internal publications to share your work and its impact.
• Write articles and publish them internally: This helps create a paper trail of your contributions and makes your insights more accessible to a wider audience.
• Speak at internal events: Look for opportunities to talk about UX research in general or certain methodologies, specifically in front of different teams and departments.
• Share compelling artifacts: Consider sharing audio clips or video snippets from usability testing sessions. For many stakeholders, this might be their first time seeing how users actually interact with their products, making it a powerful way to build empathy and understanding.

Setting the stage for your research is an ongoing process. By consistently demonstrating the value of your work, you’ll gradually build and maintain a culture that appreciates and prioritizes UX research.

2. Not connecting with stakeholders enough

I know the word “networking” makes many UX professionals cringe. It can seem pushy, sales-y, and forced, especially if you’re an introvert. However, building relationships with stakeholders doesn’t have to be uncomfortable. In fact, it’s actually crucial for your success as a researcher. 

Here’s a more approachable way to think about it: focus on building partnerships rather than just networking. A powerful way to get the ball rolling is to set up virtual or in-person coffee chats with potential influencers and multipliers in your organization. Use these informal meetings to learn about their work, understand their challenges, and explore how you might collaborate in the future.

For example, consider connecting with people from your marketing team. While you might sometimes think of this as a more transactional relationship (e.g. receiving a brand direction and assets to work with), it can be much more beneficial if you work on building a true partnership. By understanding each other’s roles and challenges, you can find ways to support one another and become more successful in your respective areas.

Remember, these connections don’t have to (and should not) be forced or artificial. Approach them with genuine curiosity about your colleagues’ work and a desire to find mutually beneficial ways to collaborate.

Related read: Impactful research is a team sport with Peter Roessler

3. Falling in love with beautiful slide decks no one cares about

In my early days as a UX researcher, I was guilty of this common mistake, trying to tick all the boxes, all the time. I used to put a lot of time and effort into creating amazing slide decks for my research results, thinking that if they are not only comprehensive but also beautiful to look at, successful implementation would be almost guaranteed. 

However, I quickly learned that while aesthetically pleasing presentations can be nice and useful, they are not what stakeholders truly care about.

What matters most is the clarity and actionability of your insights.

Instead of focusing on creating a perfect-looking deck, focus on these aspects:

• Create concise, easily digestible summaries (or top-line reports) of your key findings.
• Use simple visuals that highlight patterns or trends in your data.
• Prepare short stories or examples that illustrate your main points.
• Be ready to discuss the implications of your findings for different teams or projects. 

Always keep in mind that your goal should be to communicate insights effectively, not to win design awards for your presentations. Prioritize clarity and relevance over anything else.

4. Skipping the follow-up & not defining action items 

One of the most critical phases of any research project happens after you’ve presented your findings. Many of the UX research teams I’ve partnered with struggle a lot with what comes next. It’s not enough to simply share your results and consider your job done.

Without proper follow-up, even the most insightful research can fail to make a real impact. 

To avoid this mistake:

• Schedule follow-up meetings with key stakeholders to discuss the implications of your findings.
• Work collaboratively to define specific action items based on your research. 
• Create a system for tracking these action items and their progress over time. This can even be a super simple Excel spreadsheet to begin with.
• Offer your support in implementing changes based on your insights if possible. That doesn’t mean things out of your scope of work (e.g. the simple act of being available for a chat for quick feedback to share your perspective and expertise).

By taking an active role in the follow-up process, you ensure that your research translates into tangible improvements and strengthens your relationships with stakeholders.

5. Not addressing skepticism & establishing your credibility

A related mistake is failing to anticipate and address skepticism about your research methods or results. Even if stakeholders sit through your entire results presentation and thank you for your work, they may harbor doubts about the trustworthiness, credibility, or applicability of your findings to their areas of responsibility.

A surprisingly simple but often forgotten way to tackle this is to demonstrate why people should trust you in the first place. That's why conference talks, master classes, and other public presentations usually start with a slide about the presenter’s experience and shiny company logos — to establish credibility and even a sense of authority so the presentation is more likely to be received well.

Think about adding a quick pitch about you and your team at the beginning of a presentation, for example a slide showing your years of experience, impactful projects you’ve worked on, or talks you have given, to create the same effect.

Apart from that, there are a few more ways to proactively address skepticism:

• Be transparent about your research methodology and its limitations.
• Provide context for your findings, explaining how they relate to different areas of the business. 
• Create space for questions and concerns during and after your presentations. 

Not everyone might feel comfortable to voice their concerns in bigger meetings and consequently walk away not implementing research findings. This can be especially dangerous because you don’t even get access to such feedback. To prevent this, consider implementing anonymous feedback mechanisms that encourage honest reactions to your research. 

Addressing skepticism head-on is a crucial step in building trust in your work and increasing the likelihood that your insights will be acted upon. 

6. Not practicing enough participation & empathy building

Finally, many researchers miss opportunities to actively involve stakeholders in the research process and build empathy for users.

By making your research more participatory, you not only generate more buy-in but also help stakeholders develop a deeper understanding of user needs and behaviors. 

Consider these approaches:

• Try a workshop format to share insights instead of a “one-to-many” presentation. You can play with exercises like the “rose, thorn, bud” method for sorting findings into categories that help understand their essence and what to do with them.
• Provide opportunities to flag insights that need to be addressed in more detail, e.g. by including a digital “don’t understand / unclear” bucket you can address later.
• Teach people in the business how to become great observers or notetakers by running sessions with snippets of past interviews and providing a template to practice.
• Hold workshops like peer review sessions to help stakeholders understand what biased questions are, and how to distinguish true insights from subjective observations.

By involving stakeholders more directly in the research process, you help them develop their UX research understanding and create stronger advocates for user-centered design inside your organization. 

The bottom line

Great UX research isn’t just about conducting methodologically sound studies.

It's about effectively communicating your insights, building strong relationships with stakeholders, and ensuring your work leads to meaningful improvements in user experiences.

By addressing these often overlooked mistakes, you’ll be better equipped to drive positive change and demonstrate the true value of UX research in your organization.