#185 - How to Use AI Without Losing Your Research Soul with Nikki Anderson of Drop in Research

Ben Wiedmaier sits down with user research consultant Nikki Anderson to explore how researchers can stay relevant when budgets are tight and stakeholders are stressed. Nikki runs Drop in Research where she helps teams conduct research, facilitate better meetings, and build research practices from the ground up. She shares how companies are increasingly coming to her with validation requests rather than discovery work, driven by pressure to ship fast and hit numbers. The conversation reveals practical strategies for mixed methods research, using facilitation to drive action from insights, and leveraging AI tools without compromising research quality.

Nikki explains why she creates forcing functions to slow stakeholders down when they want to rush into AI features without understanding the problem. She advocates for parallel convergent research design where surveys, interviews, and secondary research happen simultaneously to deliver insights faster. The discussion covers why synthesis remains a bridge too far for AI, how to turn research presentations into collaborative workshops, and specific ways researchers can demonstrate value through facilitation skills.

Highlights
00:00 Intro
05:20 Mixed Methods and Data Triangulation
10:07 Finding Small Tests When Teams Won't Wait
14:46 Stakeholder Stress Driving Validation Requests
23:30 Facilitation as Core Research Skill
40:03 Using AI for Research Planning
45:39 Demonstrating AI Skills to Stakeholders

Resources
- AI for User Research 101 Course
- 30+ Tools for every phase of UX Research
- AI Context Engineering for Research Course

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#190 - How to Navigate the Constant Change in UX Research with Learners CEO Alec Levin

Erin May sits down with Alec Levin, CEO and Co-Founder of Learners, to explore how researchers can navigate the rapid changes reshaping their field. Alec shares his vision for how AI and automation ar...

26 Touko 39min

#189 - Throwback: Quantifying Research Impact with Ruby Pryor of Rex

This week we're revisiting one of Awkward Silences' most memorable episodes.This episode welcomed Ruby Pryor, founder of Rex, a consulting firm specializing in UX research and strategic design.This ep...

12 Touko 47min

#188 - Why AI Can't Replace Qualitative Research with Sam Ladner of Workday

Erin May sits down with Sam Ladner, Senior Principal Researcher of Strategy at Workday, to explore the evolving role of AI in qualitative research. Sam brings a refreshingly balanced perspective on wh...

28 Huhti 49min

#187 - Throwback: Harnessing AI For Better Insights with George Whitfield of MIT and Google

This week we're revisiting one of Awkward Silences' most memorable episodes. This episode welcomed George Whitfield, an expert in applying AI to the analysis of qualitative data. George discussed the ...

14 Huhti 40min

#186 - Positioning Your Portfolio for AI Skills with Aneta Kmiecik of Be Your Own Design Team

Erin May sits down with Aneta Kmiecik, founder of Be Your Own Design Team, to tackle one of the biggest questions facing designers today: how to position AI skills in portfolios and resumes. With 15 y...

31 Maalis 42min

#184 - Use Context For More Influence with Kristen DeLap of Econify

Ben talks with Kristen DeLap, fractional COO at Econify, to explore how UX'ers can build influence without formal authority. Kristen brings a unique perspective, having evolved from interior design to...

3 Maalis 39min

#183 - The Best Ways to Use AI in UX Research with Laura Klein of NN/g

Erin and Ben chat with Laura Klein, Principal Experience Specialist at Nielsen Norman Group, about the practical realities of AI in user research. Laura teaches a class on AI for researchers and bring...

17 Helmi 48min