Synthesizing User Research
Quick start
Collect or infer:
- •Research method(s) used (interviews, usability tests, surveys, etc.)
- •Number of participants and segment distribution
- •Research questions or objectives
- •Raw data sources (transcripts, notes, recordings, survey responses)
- •Intended audience for synthesis (product, design, leadership)
Then produce output using TEMPLATES.md. Validate with RUBRIC.md.
Workflow
- •Review research objectives — what questions were we trying to answer?
- •Organize raw data by participant, then by theme or topic.
- •Identify patterns: behaviors, pain points, mental models, quotes.
- •Cluster similar observations into themes.
- •Distinguish between observations (what happened) and insights (what it means).
- •Quantify where possible: "7 of 10 participants..." not "many participants..."
- •Prioritize findings by frequency, severity, and alignment with research goals.
- •Generate actionable recommendations tied to specific insights.
- •Document methodology and limitations.
- •Run the rubric check. Revise until it passes.
Degrees of freedom
- •Low freedom: Faithful representation of participant statements, methodology accuracy
- •Medium freedom: Theme naming, insight framing, recommendation specificity
- •High freedom: Narrative structure, prioritization framework, visualization choices
Default: Prioritize accuracy over elegance. Quote participants directly when possible. Flag inferences clearly.
References
- •Templates: TEMPLATES.md
- •Rubric: RUBRIC.md
- •Examples: EXAMPLES.md
- •Synthesis methods: reference/synthesis-methods.md