Putting it all together to pick a method

The UX research method you choose will depend on the stage of your design process, how much time you have, your budget, and what you want to know.

Once this is established, decide what type of insight you want to gain. Do you want to learn what people think and believe or what they actually do? Generally, behavior research offers more value as users can't always precisely articulate what they need.

Do you need numerical data on how users behave or verbal data on why they behave that way? Often, qualitative research determines user thoughts and motivations, while quantitative research assesses usability.

Once you've determined the type of insight, narrow your focus by assessing the product's context in your question. If the question concerns the user or company, you may not need to involve the product. If your goal is to test the product or a design iteration, use a natural or scripted method.

In the end, the success of your work is determined by how much of an impact it has on improving your product's UX. Considering the above factors will help you make the best choice at the right time.