By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader When I first encountered AI confidence scores, I assumed they worked just like the confidence levels I learned about in research studies. It seemed natural to think that a high AI confidence score meant the same thing as a high confidence interval in scientific research. Over time, I realized this assumption was misleading. The two concepts serve different purposes and come from very different processes. Understanding these differences c

Artificial intelligence has become a powerful tool in research, offering data-driven recommendations that can accelerate discovery and improve decision-making. Yet, what happens when AI suggestions clash with evidence or insights gathered by researchers themselves? This tension between machine-generated advice and human judgment is a challenge many research leaders face today. I want to share how I and others in the field navigate these conflicts and make decisions that balan

Balancing user experience metrics often feels like walking a tightrope. I’ve faced this challenge many times, trying to improve one aspect of a product only to see another suffer. Speed, quality, and satisfaction are key metrics that often pull in different directions. When they conflict, it’s tempting to pick one and ignore the rest, but that rarely leads to the best outcome. Instead, understanding how to navigate these trade-offs can help create a more balanced and effectiv

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader When I first started working on digital products, I noticed something troubling. Teams often postponed fixing user experience problems, thinking they could handle them later. But those small issues piled up, creating what I now understand as UX debt. Like financial debt, UX debt grows over time and can seriously hurt a product’s success. That’s why measuring UX debt with clear metrics is essential. It helps teams see the real cost of ign

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader When I first started writing UX research case studies, I struggled to present my work in a way that was clear and engaging. I knew the research was valuable, but the story often felt scattered or hard to follow. Over time, I learned that the way you structure your case study can make all the difference. A well-organized case study not only highlights your findings but also guides readers through your process smoothly. Here’s how I approa

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader When I first started sharing my UX research work, I struggled to present my findings in a way that truly reflected the depth and value of the process. A high-quality UX research case study does more than just list methods and results. It tells a story that connects the problem, the users, and the design decisions in a clear, engaging way. If you want to create case studies that stand out and communicate your impact effectively, understan

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader When I first started working in UX research, I relied heavily on basic methods like surveys and usability testing. These tools gave me useful insights, but I quickly realized they only scratched the surface of understanding users’ true needs and behaviors. Over time, I explored more advanced UX research methodologies that helped me uncover deeper insights and design better experiences. In this post, I want to share some of those methods,

Recruiting new talent and managing interviews can quickly become overwhelming without clear communication. I’ve learned that having well-crafted email templates for recruiting, scheduling, and confirmations saves time and reduces confusion for everyone involved. These templates help keep candidates informed and engaged, while making the process smoother for recruiters and hiring managers. In this post, I’ll share practical email templates and tips that you can adapt to your o

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader When I first started working in user experience, I was eager to measure everything. I believed that turning every insight into a metric would help prove the value of UX work and guide product decisions. But over time, I learned that not all UX insights fit neatly into numbers. Some insights lose their meaning or even mislead when forced into metrics. This post shares why some UX insights should stay qualitative and how to decide what to