This week’s highlights: Explore how psychological principles are shaping AI interactions, tackle the hurdles of implementing UX recommendations, and discover why you might be talking to customers the wrong way. Our podcast pick shows how small brands use behavioral science for big impact. Plus, find new job opportunities in UXR, Data Science, and Behavioral Science.

Finally, check out Amanda Jensen’s inspiring journey as a Senior UX Researcher blending design and strategy. And stay tuned—our members’ Slack channel is coming later this month.

📢 Announcements

Since our launch in August, our community has expanded to over 500 researchers across 34 countries! 🌍 To foster connections among our members, we’re planning a Speed Networking Session on Zoom. In this session, members who join will be randomly paired for 1:1 breakout rooms. Over three rounds, you’ll have the opportunity to meet and connect with three different researchers in tech.

We’d love your input on how long each session should be and whether this format interests you:

🔬 People of Research

^{_{Interested in featuring in telling your story?}} 🔗 ^{_{email us}}

Past Interviews

• 🇬🇧 Will, UXR at Hive, producer of smart home devices.

• 🇮🇩 Eka, Senior Product Researcher at Indonesia’s largest bank.

📰 Article Picks

🔗 Beyond Alexa: Psychological Principles for Designing AI Interactions | In this insightful piece, Dan Pilat, Co-Founder and Managing Director at The Decision Lab, delves into the evolution of voice AI interactions, highlighting OpenAI’s latest advancements. Moving beyond typical voice assistants like Alexa, Pilat explores how real-time response rates, enhanced voice recognition, and multimodal capabilities are setting new standards. He also emphasizes the importance of applying psychological principles such as cognitive load management and framing effects to create more intuitive and effective human-computer interactions. A must-read for those interested in the future of AI and voice technology.

🔗 Overcoming UX Recommendation Resistance | Brian Utesch offers strategies for UX researchers to navigate stakeholder skepticism and ensure their recommendations are implemented. From addressing doubts about sample size to defending your methodology, Utesch provides practical advice for overcoming common objections. He emphasizes the importance of early stakeholder engagement, clear communication, and presenting actionable insights to build trust and drive user-centered design decisions. Essential reading for UXR professionals facing challenges in getting their voices heard.

🔗 You’re Talking to Customers Wrong | Judd Antin discusses the common pitfalls product teams face when engaging with customers. While talking to customers is crucial, Antin argues that it’s often done ineffectively, leading to minimal impact. He emphasizes the importance of not just listening, but taking the right actions based on those conversations. Antin also highlights the dangers of confirmation bias and the tendency to only engage with familiar or convenient customers, which can skew insights. A must-read for anyone involved in customer-facing roles looking to improve the way they gather and act on customer feedback.

🔗 The Peril of Analytics That Are Oriented to “Answering Business Questions” | Tim Wilson critiques the common practice of focusing analytics solely on answering business questions. He argues that this approach often leads to shallow insights and missed opportunities for meaningful decision-making. Instead, Wilson advocates for a deeper engagement with business goals, encouraging analysts to collaborate closely with stakeholders to identify the most valuable outcomes and metrics. A thought-provoking piece for anyone working in analytics or data-driven decision-making.

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💼 Jobs Picks

Explore the latest roles in our community, as our community spans 34 countries and various seniority levels. Whether you’re advancing your career or seeking new challenges, there’s always something here for everyone.

UK & Europe

• Behavioural Scientist, Lloyds Banking Group (London, Hybrid)

• Lead Product Research & User Experience, Luupli (UK, Remote)

• Insight Analyst, Signal AI (Lisbon, Hybrid)

• CX/UX Research Lead, CoinsPaid (EU, Remote)

• Senior UX Researcher (Mixed Methods), JetBrains (Berlin, Hybrid)

North America

• Staff UX Survey Scientist, Google (New York City, On-site)

• Researcher, Strategic Research, Grammarly (New York City, Hybrid)

• VP of User Research, Section (Seattle, Remote)

• Principal Human Experience Researcher, Amazon (Seattle, On-site)

Asia

• Senior UX Researcher, Cosmose (Jakarta, Remote)

• Senior UX Researcher, Nutanix (Bengaluru, On-site)

• Sr. Research Analyst, Dentsu (New Delhi, Hybrid)

Latin America

• Staff UX Researcher, Product, Google (São Paulo, On-site)

• Sr. UX Researcher, UXReactor (Medellín, Hybrid)

  ^{Interested in sharing opportunities in research? ✉️ Email us!}

🔉 Podcasts Picks

This week’s podcast recommendation is from Behavioral Science For Brands. In this episode, MichaelAaron Flicker and Richard Shotton are joined by Owain Service, co-founder of the UK’s Behavioral Insights Team, to explore how behavioral science is being applied in marketing across different sectors worldwide. From a small Michelin-rated restaurant in Spain to large corporations, they discuss how understanding human behavior can create powerful marketing strategies. Whether you’re in the food industry or tech, this episode offers valuable insights on making a big impact with behavioral science. 

^{Want to feature your podcast?} 🔗 ^{Submit Your Podcast} 

🗓 Events Picks

We think you might like this event:

🔗 AMA with Kate: Elevating Your Team – Training Researchers and Non-Researchers Alike | Join RallyUXR on August 22 for an insightful AMA with Kate Moran, VP of Research & Content at NN/g. Kate will delve into how non-UX roles can excel as researchers, share strategies for upskilling your research team, and discuss best practices for engaging stakeholders in research. 

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About us

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

If you’re not yet a member, we’re much more than a newsletter. We’re a community and our primary focus is on building a strong, engaged research community in tech.

✏️ Join +500 researchers in tech across 34 countries