user-research

The user-research skill acts as a specialized methodologist within the Agentic Startup framework, designed to bridge the gap between raw qualitative data and actionable product strategy. It is intended for product managers, UX designers, and engineers who need to conduct rigorous studies to validate hypotheses or resolve design uncertainty. By providing structured protocols for gathering evidence, the skill ensures that decisions regarding product features, interaction flows, or UX improvements are rooted in observed behavioral patterns rather than demographic stereotypes or speculative anecdotes.

• Conducts structured user interviews, contextual inquiries, and usability testing sessions using pre-defined research protocols.

• Performs complex thematic analysis and affinity mapping to synthesize raw qualitative data into clear, actionable product insights.

• Creates behavioral personas that move beyond superficial demographics to capture user motivations, pain points, and specific product-usage goals.

• Generates journey maps to identify friction points, touchpoints, and emotional arcs throughout the user experience.

• Maps research findings directly to prioritized product/design recommendations categorized by impact and implementation urgency.

• Start by defining clear decision questions to ensure research efforts are focused and efficient.

• The skill requires a target research focus as an argument; it outputs structured objects containing themes, evidence, impact assessments, and priority levels.

• Always separate observed user behavior from participant opinion to maintain analytical rigor and avoid bias.

• Use the provided reference materials covering interview facilitation, observational protocols, and synthesis methods to ensure consistency.

• Constraints prevent leading questions and generalizing from single anecdotes, ensuring the research remains neutral and scientifically valid.

• Output is designed for integration into technical specifications and feature roadmaps, bridging the gap between design research and engineering implementation.