User Research (UX): Conducting User Research
Practice unbiased user interviews with AI-assisted rehearsal
User Research (UX): Conducting User Research is a compact, practitioner-focused course led by Jeff Hurd that teaches how to plan and facilitate unbiased user interviews to generate actionable UX insights. It emphasizes crafting effective discussion guides, using AI for rehearsal, and moderation techniques that reduce bias.
Through short, applied lessons and real-world examples learners practice rapport-building, probing strategies, and interpreting nonverbal cues so they can translate qualitative findings into design-relevant recommendations. Graduates should feel prepared to design, run, and analyze user interviews with practical confidence.
At a Glance
User Research (UX): Conducting User Research is a concise Pluralsight course taught by Jeff Hurd that walks learners through planning and moderating unbiased user interviews. It broadly covers crafting effective discussion guides, using AI to prepare and simulate interviews, building rapport and neutrality, and observing nonverbal cues to extract actionable UX insights.
| Level | Beginner |
| Rating | 4.6 out of 5 |
| Duration | 50+ minutes |
| Languages | English |
| Certificate | Certificate of completion |
| Access | Included with Pluralsight subscription; access while your subscription is active |
| Course includes |
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| Price | Subscription-based (monthly or annual plans); free trial available |
What This Course Teaches
The course frames outcomes as practical, demonstrable competencies you can apply to real research work after completion. Students learn to design, run, and interpret qualitative user interviews using structured guides, moderation techniques, and AI-based preparation.
How the Course Is Structured
The course is organized into 5 modules comprising 15 short lessons and follows a linear progression from research mindset through live session execution. The entire curriculum totals about 51 minutes and groups related lessons into topic-focused modules for quick, focused study.
Curriculum overview
01 Setting the Stage: The Research Mindset and Goals ▾
Introduces foundational concepts—data framing, common biases, research ethics, and turning business needs into clear research goals.
02 Crafting the Discussion Guide ▾
Covers approaches for structuring questions, avoiding closed prompts, and practical use of AI to draft and refine discussion guides.
03 Facilitating Comfortable User Sessions ▾
Focuses on rapid rapport-building, strategic silence and probing techniques, and methods to reduce interviewer influence during sessions.
04 Perfect Your Moderation with AI Simulation ▾
Demonstrates using AI to roleplay different participant personas and provides expert tips for realistic moderation rehearsals.
05 Conducting the Session ▾
Addresses practical logistics for remote setups, strategies for adapting during interviews, reading nonverbal cues, and closing sessions professionally.
Audience & Requirements
This course targets practitioners and stakeholders who need hands-on skills to plan and run user interviews, including UX designers, product managers, and early-career researchers moving into qualitative methods. It is pitched at beginners and emphasizes practical moderation, ethical practice, and AI-assisted rehearsal so learners can apply interview techniques immediately.
- UX designers and researchers learning practical interview moderation.
- Product managers who need to translate business needs into research goals.
- Early-career researchers or team members adding qualitative skills to their toolkit.
- Design leads and stakeholders wanting to improve internal research practices.
- No special prerequisites; suitable for beginners.
- Comfort with conversational English for conducting interviews and interpreting responses.
- Access to participants or colleagues for practicing live interviews and roleplays.
- Willingness to work through AI-based rehearsal exercises (no advanced tools required).
Final Verdict
This concise course delivers focused, practical training in planning and moderating user interviews suitable for those who need to quickly add qualitative research skills to their workflow. Given its strong rating and focused scope, it represents a sensible, low-risk way for beginners and product or design practitioners to gain usable moderation techniques.
Because access is subscription-based and a certificate is available on completion, the course is especially good value for learners who already use the platform or who plan to take additional courses; those seeking a single, standalone purchase should weigh the subscription trade-off and consider a trial first. Overall, it is recommended for learners who want a concise, applied introduction to user interviewing rather than a deep, research-methods academic treatment.
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