This week’s articles: Discover how Itzel Cabrero Iriberri explains the transformation of gossip into high-quality research for decision-making. She reveals how qualitative methods like observation and interviews can turn seemingly trivial information into actionable insights. Dive into Maria Rosala’s exploration of the discovery mindset, where she highlights the importance of focusing on problems rather than jumping to solutions, and how cognitive biases can be avoided.

Finally, Max Matsinger uncovers the psychology behind Uber Eats’ design strategies, showing how the app uses triggers, variable rewards, and user investment to build a habit of ordering food.

Plus, this week’s curated selection of jobs, podcasts, and events for the week. Finally, our People of Research Member interview with Chee Eun Ahn 🇰🇷 

📢 Announcements

Our first few IRL events are happening soon! 🇵🇹 Lisbon, Portugal (Today!) and 🇬🇧 London, United Kingdom (November 6th). If you can’t attend, no worries! Follow us on 📷 Instagram to catch our event stories, reels, and short-form content. 👀 

Starting in November, we’ll be launching “Hot Takes” on 📷 Instagram —a chance for our community to weigh in on trending topics like the rise of AI in tools and processes, research democratization, and the current state of the hiring market.

🔬 People of Research Member Interview

• 🌎️ Past People of Research Interviews

📰 Article Picks

This week’s article picks!

🔗 From Gossip to Groundbreaking Insights: In her article “From Gossiping to High-Quality Research for Decision-Making,” Itzel Cabrero Iriberri delves into how gossip, often seen as trivial, can influence major decisions and outcomes, from the Salem Witch Trials to the volatility of the S&P 500. Iriberri advocates for transforming everyday gossip into high-quality, actionable research using qualitative methods such as observation and interviews. By treating gossip as data, organizations can make better decisions grounded in well-researched insights.

🔗 Shifting to a Discovery Mindset: In “Getting into the Discovery Mindset,” Maria Rosala emphasizes the importance of embracing an open and explorative approach when tackling product discovery. Rosala argues that teams often fall into the trap of focusing on solutions too early, which can lead to cognitive biases like anchoring and confirmation bias. She highlights the need for teams to reframe goals around problems, rather than solutions, and to use strategies like “iceboxing” favorite ideas to avoid narrowing their thinking.

🔗 How Uber Eats Hooks You Into Ordering More: In “How Uber Eats Makes You Think You Want to Order Food,” Max Matsinger dives into the psychology and design strategies that encourage habitual use of food delivery apps like Uber Eats. Matsinger argues that Uber Eats leverages behavioral models like Nir Eyal’s Hook Model to form habits by using triggers, variable rewards, and gradual user investment.

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🎟️ Event Picks

⚡ Join +100 community members for our Lightning Talks Event!

Each talk is distinct, offering unique insights and perspectives on topics like research methodologies, design innovation, strategy, and professional development. Speakers: ​Pavel Samsonov, Design Lead @ AWS | ​Emily Vernon, CCXP⛵️, Global Brand Strategy Consultant @ Vernonical | ​Sophie Aldebert, UX Researcher @ Centrica | Amanda Jensen, MFA, Senior UX Researcher @ ETS

🔥 Fireside Chat & AMA w/Kate Towsey

Later in the month, you can also join our free 🔥 Fireside Chat & AMA with the ReOps pioneer Kate Towsey on all things research, ReOps and Research That Scales. RSVP via Luma to get your spot!

• 👉️ Submit a question to Kate Towsey!

🤗 IRL Events

We’re excited to invite our members in 🇵🇹 Lisbon &  🇬🇧 London + the surrounding areas to our IRL socials in London and Lisbon! Meet like-minded researchers, exchange ideas, and maybe even bag your next role at our October 15th 🇵🇹 Lisbon event or our November 6th 🇬🇧 London event.

💼 Jobs Picks

Explore the latest roles for our community, all posted within the last few days and some just hours ago. If you’re a hiring manager and interested in sharing opportunities in research that reach +1000 researchers across +60 countries? ✉️ Email us!

UK & Europe

• Lead User Researcher, ParentPay (UK, Remote)

• German Speaking UX Researcher (freelance) (UK, Remote)

• Service Designer, Ashurst (London, Hybrid)

• Senior User Researcher, Mixed Methods, Checkout.com (London, Hybrid)

• Senior UX Researcher, Microsoft (Dublin, Hybrid)

• UX Researcher (m/f/x, freelancer), Applause (France, Remote)

North America

• Conversational Designer, MentorMate (Wisconsin, Remote)

• Staff User Researcher, DigitalOcean (Austin, TX, Remote)

• Senior UX Researcher, Demand Gen, Google Ads, Google (New York, NY, On-site)

• Sr. UX Researcher, Human Factors, Devices Design Group, Amazon (NewSeattle, WA, On-site)

Asia

• Quantitative UX Researcher, Enterprise Data and Engineering, Google (Hyderabad, India, On-site)

• Senior Researcher (MSR Asia), Microsoft (Singapore, Hybrid)

Oceania

• UX Researcher, Dovetail (Sydney, Australia, Hybrid)

• Experience Design Researcher, Financial Wellbeing, ANZ (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Hybrid)

Latin America

• Junior UX Researcher (Remote), Kreativstorm (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Remote)

• Senior UX Researcher, Oracle (Uruguay, Remote)

👀 Don’t see roles in your location? Let us know in a reply.

🎙 Podcasts Pick

This week’s Podcast Pick:

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👋 About us

We’re People of Research - a global hybrid community uniting researchers across the tech industry, from UX Research to Behavioural Science. Our mission is to advance the field of research through connection, collaboration, and growth.

✏️ Join +1000 researchers in tech across +60 countries:

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