Understanding the Different Types of UX Research: Qualitative vs. Quantitative

By Philip Burgess - UX Research Leader

When organizations think about UX research, they often picture usability testing or surveys. But UX research is a much broader practice — and at its heart, it comes down to two complementary approaches: qualitative and quantitative.

Both types are essential. Qualitative research uncovers the “why” behind user behavior, while quantitative research validates the “how much” and “how often.” Together, they give teams the insight needed to design experiences that are both meaningful and measurable.

Qualitative UX Research

Qualitative research focuses on depth over numbers. It’s about understanding people’s motivations, emotions, and pain points through observation and conversation.

Common Qualitative Methods

• Usability Testing: Watching participants complete tasks to uncover usability issues.

• User Interviews: One-on-one conversations that reveal expectations, needs, and challenges.

• Diary Studies: Longitudinal methods where users track experiences over days or weeks.

• Field Studies / Contextual Inquiry: Observing users in their natural environment.

• Card Sorting: Understanding how users categorize information to inform IA (Information Architecture).

• Tree Testing: Evaluating how easily users can navigate a site structure.

Best for: uncovering why users behave a certain way, exploring new ideas, and generating hypotheses.

Quantitative UX Research

Quantitative research focuses on breadth and measurement. It’s about capturing statistically significant patterns across a larger user base.

Common Quantitative Methods

• Surveys & Questionnaires: Measuring attitudes, satisfaction, and perception at scale.

• Analytics Review: Using tools like Google Analytics or Adobe Analytics to track behavior patterns.

• A/B Testing (Split Testing): Comparing two designs to see which performs better.

• Clickstream Analysis: Tracking navigation paths and drop-off points.

• Benchmarking Studies: Establishing baseline performance metrics (e.g., task completion time, error rates).

• Unmoderated Remote Tests: Large-scale usability tests run through platforms like UserTesting or Maze.

Best for: answering how much or how often questions, validating hypotheses, and prioritizing opportunities based on impact.

Why Both Matter

Relying on only one type of research creates blind spots:

• Qualitative alone might uncover fascinating insights, but you won’t know how widespread the issue is.

• Quantitative alone might reveal a problem’s scale, but not the root cause behind it.

The most impactful research programs blend the two:

• Start with qualitative research to uncover patterns and hypotheses.

• Follow with quantitative research to validate findings and measure impact.

Example:

• Qual → Usability testing reveals users abandon checkout because shipping costs aren’t clear.

• Quant → Analytics show 22% drop-off at the shipping page, validating the scope of the problem.

Bringing It Together

As a UX Research Leader, I often coach teams to think of qualitative and quantitative research as partners, not competitors. Together, they allow us to:

• Build empathy for users, while also aligning with business goals.

• Design not just usable experiences, but measurable improvements.

• Influence strategy with insights that speak both human and business languages.

Final Thought

UX research is most powerful when it balances the stories people tell with the numbers that prove impact. Whether you’re exploring a new concept, testing usability, or tracking product performance, a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods ensures your research drives clarity — and outcomes.