user-research

Conducts generative qualitative user research via interviews, observation, and diary studies.

1|Updated May 6, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/jacob-balslev/skill-graph --skill user-research-jacob-balslev
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: user-research
Source: https://github.com/jacob-balslev/skill-graph/tree/main/marketplace/skills/user-research
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/jacob-balslev/skill-graph --skill user-research-jacob-balslev

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

User research helps you discover what people actually do, think, and need in their real context so you can make better design decisions before solutions exist.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Generative qualitative discovery: Conduct semi-structured interviews, contextual inquiry, ethnographic observation, and diary studies to surface behaviors and motivations from lived experience.
  • Interview craft and evidence quality: Build interview guides that avoid leading questions and solution prompts, using techniques like critical incident questioning and in-session laddering to reach underlying causes.
  • Contextual and longitudinal methods: Observe users in their environment (shadowing, fly-on-the-wall) or study change over time (diaries, longitudinal prompts) to reduce recall bias.

Quick Start

Tell me to draft a user-research plan and interview guide for interviewing SMB founders about adopting their first accounting software.

Frequently Asked Questions about user-research

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I write an interview guide for generative user research?

To write a user research interview guide, focus on past behavior using critical incident questioning and in-session laddering while strictly avoiding hypotheticals, leading prompts, and solution prompting to uncover real motivations.

What is the best way to uncover user needs before building a solution?

Generative qualitative user research uncovers real user needs by exploring what people do, think, and need in their real-world context through methods like ethnographic observation and semi-structured interviews before solutions exist.

Can I use contextual inquiry to reduce recall bias in user research?

Contextual inquiry reduces recall bias by observing users in their actual environment through shadowing or fly-on-the-wall ethnographic techniques, capturing real-time behaviors instead of relying on remembered accounts.

How do I conduct a diary study for longitudinal product discovery?

A diary study tracks user behaviors and motivations over time using longitudinal prompts, allowing you to study change and surface lived experiences during early product discovery rather than evaluating existing features.

When should I not use generative qualitative research?

Generative qualitative research is not suited for evaluating existing designs or analyzing quantitative analytics, as it focuses strictly on early discovery to surface behaviors and motivations from lived experience prior to solution development.

Do I need recording and consent for ethnographic observation?

Yes, generative user research requires verification via recording and consent to ethically conduct ethnographic observation and ensure findings accurately reflect participant behaviors without leading prompts.