User research is the practice of generating evidence about user needs, behaviors, and pain points through systematic methods, then synthesizing that evidence into actionable insights. Methods include interviews, observation, surveys, usability testing, diary studies, and analytics, and the output informs product, design, and marketing decisions. It is the input layer underneath product discovery, UX work, value proposition development, and most credible go-to-market positioning.
The discipline splits along two axes that matter. The qualitative versus quantitative axis: qualitative research (interviews, observation, usability tests) tells you why users do what they do and is best run in small N with rich detail; quantitative re...