When to Use Which User-Experience Research Methods
There are many different methods in user experience and when you’re just beginning, keeping track of everything, when they’re used, and how to conduct them can be very overwhelming. If you feel this way, just know you’re not alone and as you mature in your career it will get easier.
Because UX Research is applied research and typically working under the conditions of businesses and capitalism, choosing the most effective method for the least amount of resources is usually encouraged. It’s your job as a researcher to make it clear what the benefits and downfalls are to choosing certain methods in addition to knowing which will achieve the desired goal.
I’m working on a flowchart / table to help organize the different methods and when they’re used. Check back later for development on this! For now, methods are being documented in the UX Dictionary