User Research Firm

User Research Firm
RKS is a human-centered consumer research, market research, and ethnographic research firm.


About RKS
As a user research firm, with capabilities in user research, consumer research, market research, and ethnography, we utilize tested methodologies to develop deep expertise. User research and market research are the cornerstones of human-centered design. In the user-centric design process, designers focus on the users and their needs in each phase of the design process. In many cases, these needs are defined through ethnographic research (also called ethnographies), a qualitative method where researchers observe and/or interact with a study’s participants in their real-life environment. Conducting ethnographies in real-life environments aims to get ‘under the skin’ of a design problem. By learning about the user’s values, needs, and psychological makeup, researchers can better empathize with their pain points and where best to deliver value. Value is perceived differently across consumers, and ethnographies are key in understanding these differences.


Research Services


About RKS
As a user research firm, with capabilities in user research, consumer research, market research, and ethnography, we utilize tested methodologies to develop deep expertise. Consumer research and market research are the cornerstones of user-centric design. In the user-centric design process, designers focus on the users and their needs in each phase of the design process. In many cases, these needs are defined through ethnographic research (also called ethnographies), a qualitative method where researchers observe and/or interact with a study’s participants in their real-life environment. Conducting ethnographies in real-life environments aims to get ‘under the skin’ of a design problem. By learning about the user’s values, needs, and psychological makeup, researchers can better empathize with their pain points and where best to deliver value. Value is perceived differently across consumers, and ethnographies are key in understanding these differences.

Research Planning
Careful planning of ethnographic research is essential to creating long-lasting products and services. At the same time, a well-designed ethnography can reduce the cost of product development by targeting the vital data required without wasting valuable time and resources. The ethnographic research process has multiple phases, from planning to execution and applications. At the beginning of the study, it’s essential for a researcher to fully

Research Question
Location
Interview Methods
Consent

Research Planning

Research Question

Location

Interview Methods

Consent
Research Management

Observation and Participation

Interview Process

Data and Synthesis
Markets and Industries

UX

Brand

Product Design
Research Management
Once the planning is done, we begin the process of conducting research. The process of conducting ethnographic research varies depending on the project. However, there are relationships between the type of product or service we’re researching for and the process we use. For a consumer product, for example, we’re likely to focus on participants in their homes, vehicles, or other locations that would normally use a consumer product. For an

Observation and Participation
Interview Process
Data and Synthesis

Markets and Industries
Understanding human behavior is key to our user-centric design focus. Human behavior is drive by deep psychological needs. However it’s usually impossible to simply ask people to describe these needs. We have alarming blind spots when it comes to describing our own behavior. In trying to recall what we did or believe we did, our recollections will often not align with what

UX
Brand
Product Design

FAQ's
What does a market research firm do?
A market research firm provides the foundational insights for product and service strategy and new product development. Market research synthesizes the current and future needs of a market in a way that creates actionable insights for decision makers. A market research firm creates the market research plan, identifies the methods of research, and executes on the market research plan.
A market research firm is a company that provides businesses and organizations with valuable insights and information about their target markets. This information is used to help organizations make informed decisions about their marketing and business strategies.
Market research firms conduct a variety of different types of research in order to gather this information. Some common methods include surveys, focus groups, interviews, and experiments. These research methods allow the firm to collect data from a variety of sources, including customers, competitors, and industry experts.
Market research often includes primary and secondary research, interviews, ethnographies, and competitive intelligence. Because we use Psycho-Aesthetics, our human-centered methodology we also use tools such as the P/A™Map
Once the data is collected, a market research firm will analyze it in order to identify trends and patterns. This analysis allows the firm to provide its clients with valuable insights about their target markets, such as consumer behavior, market trends, and customer preferences.
In addition to providing market research services, many firms also offer consulting services. These services can include helping businesses and organizations develop marketing plans, evaluate new products and services, and identify potential areas for growth and expansion.
Overall, the role of a market research firm is to help businesses and organizations make informed decisions about their target markets. By providing valuable insights and information, these firms help their clients to better understand their customers, competitors, and industry trends. This enables businesses to make more effective marketing and business decisions, which can ultimately lead to increased revenue and success.
What are the market research services of RKS?
RKS is a full-service market research firm. We create market research plans, conduct ethnographic research, and benchmark analogous and competitive offerings.
What design research methods does RKS apply?
RKS utilizes a holistic set of design research methods that are tailored to each project. Based on our human-centered design methodology, Psycho-Aesthetics we utilize methods that help us understand and synthesize the core needs and wants of consumers that pertain to the project.
What is ethnography in qualitative research design?
Ethnography involves conducting in-depth, observational research in a natural setting. This means that the researcher immerses themselves in the community they are studying and observes the interactions, practices, and behavior of the people within that community. The researcher is not simply an outsider looking in, but rather becomes a part of the community and participates in the daily activities and routines of the people they are studying.
Ethnography is a holistic approach to research, meaning that it takes into account the entire context and culture of the community being studied. It looks at the various social and cultural factors that influence the behavior and practices of the people within that community. This includes factors such as language, religion, customs, traditions, and social norms.
One of the key strengths of ethnography is that it allows the researcher to gain a deep and nuanced understanding of the culture and community being studied. By living among the people and participating in their daily activities, the researcher is able to gain a rich and detailed understanding of their culture and practices. This level of immersion allows the researcher to capture the nuances and complexities of the culture that may be missed by more traditional research methods.
Ethnography is also a flexible and adaptable research method. As the researcher becomes a part of the community, they are able to adapt and modify their research approach based on the needs and interests of the community. This means that the research can evolve and change as the community changes, allowing for a more dynamic and responsive research process.
Ethnography is not without its limitations, however. One challenge is that the researcher may become too embedded in the community and lose objectivity. It is important for the researcher to maintain a critical and reflective approach to their research, and to be aware of their own biases and assumptions.
Another challenge is that ethnography can be time-consuming and resource-intensive. Because it involves in-depth, observational research, it can take longer to conduct than other research methods. Additionally, the researcher must invest a significant amount of time and effort into building trust and relationships within the community, which can be challenging.
Despite these challenges, ethnography remains an important and valuable method of qualitative research. It allows researchers to gain a deep and nuanced understanding of the cultures and communities they study, and to uncover the complex social and cultural factors that influence their behavior and practices.
What is UX design research?
UX design research is the process of gathering and analyzing data about how users interact with a product or service in order to improve the overall user experience. This can include conducting user interviews, focus groups, usability testing, and other forms of user research to gather data on user behavior, needs, and preferences.
The goal of UX design research is to gain insight into the user’s perspective, and to use this information to inform the design and development of a product or service. This process allows UX designers to identify pain points and areas for improvement, and to make informed decisions about how to best meet the needs of users.
UX design research is a crucial part of the design process, as it helps to ensure that the end product is user-friendly and meets the needs of the target audience. By conducting research, UX designers can identify user behaviors and patterns, and use this information to inform their design decisions. This can include things like understanding how users navigate through a website, or identifying common challenges that users face when using a particular app.
Additionally, UX design research can help UX designers to gain a deeper understanding of user motivations and preferences. This can include things like understanding why users might choose one product over another, or what features are most important to users when making a purchase decision. By understanding these factors, UX designers can create designs that are more effective at meeting user needs and preferences.
Overall, UX design research is a crucial part of the design process, as it helps UX designers to create products and services that are user-friendly, effective, and engaging. By conducting research and gathering data on user behavior and preferences, UX designers can create designs that are tailored to the needs and preferences of their target audience, resulting in a better overall user experience.
What is an ethnographic research firm?
An ethnographic research firm is a professional service organization that specializes in the study of human behavior and culture. Ethnographic research is a qualitative research method that involves the observation and analysis of people in their natural environment, without preconceptions or assumptions about their behavior. The goal of ethnographic research is to understand the attitudes, behaviors, beliefs, and motivations of people in a particular cultural setting.
An ethnographic research firm provides a range of services, including fieldwork, data collection, analysis, and report writing. The research process typically involves immersion in the subject culture, observation of daily activities and interactions, and in-depth interviews with people from the culture being studied. The data collected is analyzed to uncover patterns, themes, and insights that provide a deeper understanding of the culture and its members.
Ethnographic research is used by a variety of organizations, including businesses, government agencies, and non-profit organizations, to gain a deeper understanding of their customers, stakeholders, and target markets. The insights gained from ethnographic research can be used to inform product design, marketing strategies, and policy decisions, helping organizations make informed decisions that are more closely aligned with the needs and perspectives of their target audience.
Whether conducting research in a local community or studying a culture half a world away, an ethnographic research firm provides valuable insights and understanding to help organizations make informed decisions and drive success.
Consumer & Market Research Case Study Spotlight
Experience more of our Consumer and Market Research Work.
FAQ's
What does a market research firm do?
A market research firm provides the foundational insights for product and service strategy and new product development. Market research synthesizes the current and future needs of a market in a way that creates actionable insights for decision makers. A market research firm creates the market research plan, identifies the methods of research, and executes on the market research plan.
A market research firm is a company that provides businesses and organizations with valuable insights and information about their target markets. This information is used to help organizations make informed decisions about their marketing and business strategies.
Market research firms conduct a variety of different types of research in order to gather this information. Some common methods include surveys, focus groups, interviews, and experiments. These research methods allow the firm to collect data from a variety of sources, including customers, competitors, and industry experts.
Market research often includes primary and secondary research, interviews, ethnographies, and competitive intelligence. Because we use Psycho-Aesthetics, our human-centered methodology we also use tools such as the P/A™Map
Once the data is collected, a market research firm will analyze it in order to identify trends and patterns. This analysis allows the firm to provide its clients with valuable insights about their target markets, such as consumer behavior, market trends, and customer preferences.
In addition to providing market research services, many firms also offer consulting services. These services can include helping businesses and organizations develop marketing plans, evaluate new products and services, and identify potential areas for growth and expansion.
Overall, the role of a market research firm is to help businesses and organizations make informed decisions about their target markets. By providing valuable insights and information, these firms help their clients to better understand their customers, competitors, and industry trends. This enables businesses to make more effective marketing and business decisions, which can ultimately lead to increased revenue and success.
What are the market research services of RKS?
RKS is a full-service market research firm. We create market research plans, conduct ethnographic research, and benchmark analogous and competitive offerings.
What design research methods does RKS apply?
RKS utilizes a holistic set of design research methods that are tailored to each project. Based on our human-centered design methodology, Psycho-Aesthetics we utilize methods that help us understand and synthesize the core needs and wants of consumers that pertain to the project.
What is ethnography in qualitative research design?
Ethnography is a method of qualitative research that focuses on the study of cultures, groups, and communities. It is a way of investigating and understanding the social and cultural practices of a particular group or community.
Ethnography involves conducting in-depth, observational research in a natural setting. This means that the researcher immerses themselves in the community they are studying and observes the interactions, practices, and behavior of the people within that community. The researcher is not simply an outsider looking in, but rather becomes a part of the community and participates in the daily activities and routines of the people they are studying.
Ethnography is a holistic approach to research, meaning that it takes into account the entire context and culture of the community being studied. It looks at the various social and cultural factors that influence the behavior and practices of the people within that community. This includes factors such as language, religion, customs, traditions, and social norms.
One of the key strengths of ethnography is that it allows the researcher to gain a deep and nuanced understanding of the culture and community being studied. By living among the people and participating in their daily activities, the researcher is able to gain a rich and detailed understanding of their culture and practices. This level of immersion allows the researcher to capture the nuances and complexities of the culture that may be missed by more traditional research methods.
Ethnography is also a flexible and adaptable research method. As the researcher becomes a part of the community, they are able to adapt and modify their research approach based on the needs and interests of the community. This means that the research can evolve and change as the community changes, allowing for a more dynamic and responsive research process.
Ethnography is not without its limitations, however. One challenge is that the researcher may become too embedded in the community and lose objectivity. It is important for the researcher to maintain a critical and reflective approach to their research, and to be aware of their own biases and assumptions.
Another challenge is that ethnography can be time-consuming and resource-intensive. Because it involves in-depth, observational research, it can take longer to conduct than other research methods. Additionally, the researcher must invest a significant amount of time and effort into building trust and relationships within the community, which can be challenging.
Despite these challenges, ethnography remains an important and valuable method of qualitative research. It allows researchers to gain a deep and nuanced understanding of the cultures and communities they study, and to uncover the complex social and cultural factors that influence their behavior and practices.
What is UX design research?
UX design research is the process of gathering and analyzing data about how users interact with a product or service in order to improve the overall user experience. This can include conducting user interviews, focus groups, usability testing, and other forms of user research to gather data on user behavior, needs, and preferences.
The goal of UX design research is to gain insight into the user’s perspective, and to use this information to inform the design and development of a product or service. This process allows UX designers to identify pain points and areas for improvement, and to make informed decisions about how to best meet the needs of users.
UX design research is a crucial part of the design process, as it helps to ensure that the end product is user-friendly and meets the needs of the target audience. By conducting research, UX designers can identify user behaviors and patterns, and use this information to inform their design decisions. This can include things like understanding how users navigate through a website, or identifying common challenges that users face when using a particular app.
Additionally, UX design research can help UX designers to gain a deeper understanding of user motivations and preferences. This can include things like understanding why users might choose one product over another, or what features are most important to users when making a purchase decision. By understanding these factors, UX designers can create designs that are more effective at meeting user needs and preferences.
Overall, UX design research is a crucial part of the design process, as it helps UX designers to create products and services that are user-friendly, effective, and engaging. By conducting research and gathering data on user behavior and preferences, UX designers can create designs that are tailored to the needs and preferences of their target audience, resulting in a better overall user experience.
What is an ethnographic research firm?
An ethnographic research firm is a professional service organization that specializes in the study of human behavior and culture. Ethnographic research is a qualitative research method that involves the observation and analysis of people in their natural environment, without preconceptions or assumptions about their behavior. The goal of ethnographic research is to understand the attitudes, behaviors, beliefs, and motivations of people in a particular cultural setting.
An ethnographic research firm provides a range of services, including fieldwork, data collection, analysis, and report writing. The research process typically involves immersion in the subject culture, observation of daily activities and interactions, and in-depth interviews with people from the culture being studied. The data collected is analyzed to uncover patterns, themes, and insights that provide a deeper understanding of the culture and its members.
Ethnographic research is used by a variety of organizations, including businesses, government agencies, and non-profit organizations, to gain a deeper understanding of their customers, stakeholders, and target markets. The insights gained from ethnographic research can be used to inform product design, marketing strategies, and policy decisions, helping organizations make informed decisions that are more closely aligned with the needs and perspectives of their target audience.
Whether conducting research in a local community or studying a culture half a world away, an ethnographic research firm provides valuable insights and understanding to help organizations make informed decisions and drive success.
What is ethnographic research?
Ethnographic research is a qualitative research method used to understand the cultural and social practices of a particular group of people. It involves the study of a group’s behaviors, beliefs, and values through observation and direct interaction with its members. Ethnographic research is often used in anthropology, sociology, and other social sciences to gain insights into the ways that people live and interact with each other.
The goal of ethnographic research is to gain a deep understanding of a group’s culture and practices, rather than simply collecting data. Researchers often spend extended periods of time living among the group they are studying, immersing themselves in their way of life and observing their daily routines. This allows researchers to gain a more nuanced understanding of the group’s social and cultural practices and to identify patterns and trends that may not be immediately apparent.
Ethnographic research can be particularly useful in product design and marketing, as it provides insights into the needs and preferences of specific groups of people. By understanding the cultural context in which a product will be used, designers can create products that are more culturally sensitive and relevant to their intended users.