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Mapping research value: a 3-level framework

UX Research doesn’t create impact in one step…
It builds layer by layer.
From the strength of your practice..
to the decisions it influences..
to the value it brings, for users, business, and society!

Over the past years, I’ve worked with researchers to explore the question of how to measure the impact we make as UX researchers.

The result: an updated framework that maps UXR impact across three levels:

1. Outcomes
→ Are we making life better for users, business… or even society?
2. Organisational Influence
→ Are our insights shaping real business decisions?
3. Research Practice
→ Are we doing research consistently and intentionally?

This is the basis of the Multi-Level UXR Impact Framework: a more detailed version of the model with examples of metrics you can use on each level.

A sneak peek at some of the metric examples:

  • Research output:
    # dedicated researchers per team
  • Business decisions:
    # research requests
  • User value:
    Task success rate


I use this framework in my consultancy work to guide teams in reflecting, planning and showing the value of research. This can be in a 1:1 session or a team workshop.

✨ Curious how this framework could help your team grow its UXR impact? Send me a message or connect with me on LinkedIn. Let’s explore it together.

Karin den Bouwmeester (she/her)

Karin is the founder of UXinsight. With over 20 years of hands-on research experience, she’s determined to help the research community grow to a mature level. She loves to connect UX researchers from all over the world and facilitating user research training and workshops.

1 min. read

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