What are the best ways to measure user autonomy in product design?

1 Why user autonomy matters

User autonomy is closely related to the psychological concept of self-determination theory, which states that humans have three basic needs: competence, relatedness, and autonomy. Competence is the ability to master a skill or task, relatedness is the sense of connection and belonging with others, and autonomy is the feeling of being in control of one's own actions and decisions. When these needs are met, people are more likely to be motivated, happy, and productive. User autonomy, therefore, is not only a matter of preference, but also a matter of well-being and performance.

2 How to measure user autonomy

When measuring user autonomy in product design, there are various methods to consider based on your goals, resources, and context. User surveys and interviews are direct ways to ask users about their perception of autonomy, preferences, and suggestions. Additionally, the User Autonomy Scale (UAS) is a validated questionnaire that measures user autonomy across four dimensions. Indirectly observing user behavior and analytics can offer insights into their level of autonomy. Metrics like time spent, frequency of use, and customization options can be useful in this regard. Finally, user testing and experiments are controlled ways to compare different versions of the product and measure how they affect user autonomy and other outcomes. Tools like Google Optimize or UserTesting can be used to run and analyze tests.

3 How to improve user autonomy

Once you have measured user autonomy in product design, you can use the insights to improve your product engineering process and create more user-centric and empowering products. To do this, you should provide options and alternatives that suit user needs, preferences, and goals. However, be careful not to overwhelm users with too many choices. Additionally, give feedback and guidance that help them understand and improve their performance. Again, be mindful not to overdo it. Furthermore, enable customization and personalization so users can tailor their experience to their liking and identity. Lastly, empower user actions and decisions by giving them the freedom and responsibility to make meaningful choices. But be sure not to expose them to unnecessary risks or harms.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?