diff --git a/content/uiux/concepts/hypothesis/hypothesis.md b/content/uiux/concepts/hypothesis/hypothesis.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000000..fee42ff99a8 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/uiux/concepts/hypothesis/hypothesis.md @@ -0,0 +1,105 @@ +--- +Title: 'Hypothesis' +Description: 'Hypothesis defines a testable statement used to predict user behavior and guide UX research.' +Subjects: + - 'Web Design' +Tags: + - 'UX' + - 'Research' + - 'Design Thinking' +CatalogContent: + - 'intro-to-ui-ux' + - 'paths/front-end-engineer-career-path' +--- + +## What Is a Hypothesis in UX? + +A **hypothesis** in UX design is a testable statement about how a change to a product or experience will affect user behavior or outcomes. It is typically based on existing data, user feedback, or assumptions that can be validated through testing and observation. + +Rather than designing based on intuition or opinion, UX practitioners use hypotheses to define what they believe will happen and why — and then verify it with real users. + +A typical format looks like: + +> _"We believe that [this design change] for [this user group] will result in [this outcome], because [this reason or assumption]."_ + +For example: + +> _"We believe that adding a progress bar to the sign-up process for first-time users will increase task completion, because users will know how many steps remain."_ + +## Why Hypotheses Matter in UX + +Hypotheses bring clarity and purpose to design work. They turn abstract ideas into testable predictions and keep teams focused on solving real user problems. + +Key reasons to use hypotheses in UX: + +- _Encourages evidence-based decision making._ + Grounding ideas in testable statements reduces guesswork and helps eliminate design bias. + +- _Aligns cross-functional teams._ + A shared hypothesis helps designers, researchers, and developers collaborate around measurable goals. + +- _Reduces time and resource waste._ + Testing assumptions early can prevent over-investing in solutions that don't deliver real value. + +- _Strengthens learning loops._ + Whether proven true or false, every hypothesis leads to insights that inform better design decisions. + +## When to Use a Hypothesis + +Hypotheses are valuable at various stages of the UX and product development process: + +- _During discovery and ideation_ — When identifying user pain points and proposing solutions. +- _Before usability tests_ — To clarify what you expect users to do and why. +- _In A/B or multivariate testing_ — To compare performance between different versions of a design. +- _While launching MVPs or experiments_ — To validate core assumptions before scaling. + +If you're making a change and want to know whether it improves the user experience, you're in a good place to write a hypothesis. + +## Where Hypotheses Fit in the UX Process + +Hypotheses are not just for researchers — they can inform the work of: + +- _UX designers_ — When creating flows, interfaces, or layouts that aim to solve specific user problems. +- _UX writers_ — When testing how different messaging affects user comprehension or action. +- _Product managers_ — When setting success criteria for features or releases. +- _Developers and engineers_ — When experimenting with performance optimizations or interface patterns. + +They typically appear at the start of an experiment or test cycle, are reviewed during analysis, and help shape design iterations. + +## How to Write a Strong UX Hypothesis + +To write an effective hypothesis: + +- _Be specific about the change and the user group._ + Avoid vague phrases like "improve the design" or "make it better." + +- _Include a measurable outcome._ + This could be a behavior (e.g. "increase sign-ups") or a metric (e.g. "reduce time on task"). + +- _Provide a rationale._ + Explain _why_ you believe the change will lead to the desired outcome — ideally based on user research or previous observations. + +- _Keep it testable._ + If you can't validate or invalidate the statement with research or data, it's not a good hypothesis. + +- _Use plain language._ + Hypotheses should be easy for stakeholders of all backgrounds to understand and engage with. + +## Example Hypotheses + +Here are a few examples: + +- _We believe that simplifying the navigation for mobile users will reduce bounce rates because users currently struggle to find key pages._ +- _We believe that showing delivery estimates on product pages will increase conversion because users are more likely to buy when they know how long shipping takes._ +- _We believe that onboarding tooltips will improve feature adoption for new users because they provide immediate guidance at the point of need._ + +## Limitations of Hypotheses in UX + +While powerful, hypotheses aren't foolproof: + +- They rely on initial assumptions, which can be flawed. +- Poorly written hypotheses can mislead rather than guide. +- Focusing too much on validating ideas can slow down experimentation and discovery. +- Not every design change needs a formal hypothesis — balance is key. + +Use hypotheses as _tools for learning_, not rigid rules.