The most foolproof way to ensure you get the most out of your UX research is by incorporating empathy into the process. At every research stage, ensure that you put users’ needs at the forefront and understand their perspectives. According to The Golden Circle theory popularised by Thomas and McDonagh in their paper Empathic Design: Research Strategies, you can ensure that your research is user-centered by asking yourself three questions:

• Why do users want to achieve a specific goal?
• How can they achieve this goal?
• What is the outcome after achieving this goal?^[1]