Everyone says they do user research. Very few teams actually do.
The most common form of "user research" in Indian startups is a founder interviewing their friends and family. These sessions confirm existing beliefs rather than challenge them.
Start with a clear research question, not a feature hypothesis. "Do users want a dark mode?" is a feature question. "How do users manage eye strain during long work sessions?" is a research question.
Qualitative research helps you understand the why behind behaviour. Quantitative research helps you understand the what and how often. Neither is sufficient alone.
Recruiting the right participants is the hardest part of research. Five well-recruited participants who match your target profile will give you more signal than fifty who do not.
Share your research broadly. Research that sits in a Notion doc nobody reads changes nothing. Present your findings as stories — personas, journey maps, and short video clips.
