Choosing the Right Research Method
Use decision frameworks to select the best methods for your research goals, timeline, and budget
Your Progress
Section 4 of 5No Single "Best" Method
There's no one-size-fits-all research method. The "best" method depends on your research question, timeline, budget, and what you already know. Early discovery needs qualitative. Validation needs quantitative. Often, you need both.
Three Key Questions
What do I need to learn?
Discover problems → Interviews. Validate scale → Surveys. Measure behavior → Analytics.
How much time do I have?
1 week → Usability testing. 2 weeks → Interviews + Surveys. 1 month → Field studies.
What's my budget?
$0 → Analytics + Guerrilla testing. $500 → Surveys + 5 interviews. $2000+ → Full mixed-methods.
Method Selection Decision Tree
Answer a few questions to get a personalized research method recommendation:
What do you need to learn?
Research Budget Estimator
Select methods to see total cost, timeline, and insights you'll gain:
Select Research Methods
Start Small, Then Expand
Don't plan a massive 3-month research project. Start with 5 interviews this week. If you find something interesting, follow up with surveys to quantify it. Research should be iterative and fast, not a waterfall process that delays building.
Key Takeaways
- •No single best method—choose based on your research question, timeline, and budget.
- •Discovery (unknown problems) → Interviews. Validation (test hypothesis) → Surveys. Testing (design) → Usability tests.
- •Budget matters: $0 → Analytics. $500 → Surveys + interviews. $2000+ → Mixed methods with field studies.
- •Start small and iterate. Do 5 interviews this week instead of planning a 3-month research project.