What are key performance indicators (KPIs) used for in research?

Key performance indicators (KPIs) are essential metrics used to assess and evaluate the success of a project, initiative, or specific goals within research. They serve as a quantifiable measure that helps researchers determine whether their efforts are leading towards achieving desired outcomes. By setting clear KPIs, teams can systematically track their progress, making it easier to adjust strategies as necessary to reach their objectives.

In the context of user experience design, KPIs might include metrics such as user engagement rates, task completion times, or conversion rates. These indicators provide valuable insights into how well a design or product performs, informing teams about the effectiveness of their design decisions and the overall satisfaction of the users.

While tracking user satisfaction and collecting qualitative feedback are important aspects of user research, they are not the overall purpose of KPIs. Similarly, gathering demographic data can be useful to understand user segments but does not encompass the broader role that KPIs play in measuring progress toward an end goal. Therefore, identifying KPIs as tools specifically aimed at measuring progress highlights their crucial role in effective research and design processes.