Prompt Library Template for UX Research Teams
- Philip Burgess
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader
User experience (UX) research teams often face the challenge of managing a wide range of research prompts, questions, and tasks. Without a clear system, valuable insights can get lost, and the research process may become inefficient. A prompt library template helps organize and standardize research prompts, making it easier for teams to plan, execute, and analyze studies. This article explains how UX research teams can build and use a prompt library template to improve their workflow and deliver better results.
What is a Prompt Library Template?
A prompt library template is a structured document or digital tool that stores a collection of research prompts, questions, and tasks. It acts as a centralized resource for UX researchers to quickly find and reuse prompts tailored to different research goals. The template typically includes categories, prompt types, context notes, and instructions for use.
By using a prompt library, teams avoid reinventing the wheel for each study. They can maintain consistency across projects, improve collaboration, and speed up the research design phase.
Key Components of a Prompt Library Template
To create a useful prompt library, include the following elements:
Prompt ID
A unique identifier for each prompt to track and reference easily.
Prompt Text
The exact wording of the question or task to be presented to participants.
Prompt Type
Classify prompts by type, such as open-ended questions, rating scales, task instructions, or follow-ups.
Research Goal
Describe the purpose of the prompt, for example, understanding user motivation, testing usability, or gathering feedback.
Context or Notes
Additional information about when and how to use the prompt, including any variations or tips.
Expected Outcome
What kind of data or insight the prompt aims to generate.
Last Updated
Date when the prompt was last reviewed or modified to ensure relevance.
Including these fields helps teams maintain clarity and ensures prompts are used appropriately.
How to Build a Prompt Library Template
Start by gathering existing prompts from past research projects. Review them for clarity, relevance, and effectiveness. Remove duplicates and outdated prompts. Then, organize the prompts into categories based on research goals or study phases, such as discovery, usability testing, or post-study feedback.
Use a spreadsheet or a collaborative document platform to build the template. This allows multiple team members to contribute and update prompts easily. Consider adding filters or tags to help users quickly find prompts by type or topic.
Regularly review and update the library to keep it aligned with evolving research needs and methods.
Practical Examples of Using a Prompt Library
Imagine a UX research team preparing for a usability test on a new mobile app feature. Instead of drafting questions from scratch, they open the prompt library and select relevant prompts under the "usability testing" category. For example:
"Can you describe what you expect to happen when you tap this button?"
"How easy or difficult was it to complete this task on a scale from 1 to 5?"
"What, if anything, confused you during this process?"
These prompts come with notes on how to phrase them and when to ask follow-up questions. This saves time and ensures the team collects consistent data across sessions.
Another example is during early-stage exploratory research. The team can use open-ended prompts from the library to uncover user needs and pain points, such as:
"Tell me about the last time you used a similar product."
"What challenges do you face when trying to accomplish this task?"
Benefits of Using a Prompt Library Template
Using a prompt library template offers several advantages:
Efficiency
Researchers spend less time creating prompts and more time analyzing data.
Consistency
Standardized prompts reduce bias and improve comparability across studies.
Collaboration
Teams share knowledge and best practices through a common resource.
Quality
Well-crafted prompts lead to clearer, more actionable insights.
Scalability
New team members can quickly get up to speed by accessing the prompt library.
Tips for Maintaining Your Prompt Library
Assign a team member to oversee updates and quality control.
Encourage feedback from researchers who use the prompts to identify improvements.
Archive prompts that no longer fit current research goals but keep them accessible for reference.
Use version control to track changes and avoid confusion.
Integrate the prompt library with other research tools when possible.
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