The intersection between user research and MERL

Research, like all other areas of human development, keeps evolving. Although seemingly unrelated, user research and Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) are two crucial fields to the success of any development program. But how do they feature in development? Well, user research focuses on understanding the needs and behaviors of users, while MERL is concerned with measuring the impact and effectiveness of development programs. Although they may seem like separate fields, there is a significant intersection between user research and MERL, which can be leveraged to improve the outcomes of development programs.

What is User Research?

User research involves collecting data on user needs, behaviors, and preferences to inform the design, and development of products and services. This research can take various forms, such as: surveys, interviews, usability testing, and observation. User research aims to create products and services that meet users' needs, improve their experiences, and, ultimately, drive business success.

What is MERL?

MERL stands for Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning. It is framework organizations use to measure the effectiveness of their programs and initiatives. The primary objective of MERL is to collect data on the outcomes and effectiveness of programs and use that data to improve their performance. MERL can include various methods, such as: surveys, interviews, focus groups, and case studies.

The intersection

While user research and MERL have different objectives, they intersect in several areas, for example:

• Both user research and MERL involve collecting and analyzing data: user research is used to establish insights on user needs and behaviors, while MERL collects data to measure program outcomes and effectiveness.
• Both fields involve user feedback: user research gathers feedback on products and services, while MERL gathers feedback on programs and initiatives.
• Both fields aim to improve the user experience: user research aims to create products and services that meet user needs and enhance their experiences with a product or service, while MERL aims to improve program effectiveness to yield a greater impact.

The intersection between user research and MERL lies in the collection of insights into the impact programs and initiatives have on user behavior, the goal being to measure the said impact. By using user research to inform MERL, organizations can better understand how their programs affect users, and identify improvement areas. Similarly, by using MERL to inform user research, organizations can design more effective products and services required for the materialization of set outcomes.

User Research in MERL

One should not underestimate the role user research plays in the MERL process. It informs the researcher of the needs and behaviors of the target audience. By conducting user research, development programs can gain insights into the perspectives of their beneficiaries, which will ensure that each program is tailored for the beneficiary’s needs. For example, user research can be used to understand the barriers to healthcare access in a particular community. This information can then be used to design a healthcare program customized to that community's needs, which is more likely to be effective than a program that does not consider the community's unique needs.

User research can also be used to evaluate the effectiveness of development programs. By collecting user feedback, development programs can gain insights into how well the program meets the needs of its beneficiaries, and identify areas for improvement. Furthermore, this implies that this is an iterative process: the program developers are constantly engaging users for feedback, making reforms, and checking the effectiveness of the enacted changes. It is a cyclic process based on the desire for continuous improvement, rather than perfection.

Best Practices for Using User Research in MERL

When using user research in MERL, there are some best practices to consider:

• Define clear objectives: clearly define the objectives of the user research, and how it will inform the MERL process.
• Use appropriate methods: choose user research methods appropriate for the objectives and the user population being studied.
• Use a representative sample: ensure the sample of users being studied represents the population served by the program.
• Analyze data effectively: use appropriate data analysis techniques to identify trends and insights that inform the MERL process.
• Communicate findings effectively: present user research findings in a clear, easy-to-understand way, and use them to inform the MERL process.

Conclusion

Though unique in their approach to research, particularly in the space of user experience, user research and MERL intersect. Their findings provide a measure on the impact of programs and initiatives have on user behavior, as well as gives perspective into their experiences with such programs and initiatives. Since user research is used to inform MERL, and vice versa, organizations can create more effective programs, and products that better meet users' needs. In addition, by following best practices for using user research in MERL, organizations can ensure that they are collecting, and analyzing data effectively: using it to drive constant improvement.

References:

• Krosnick, J. A. (2018). The Handbook of Survey Research (Second Edition). John Wiley & Sons.
• Alreck, P. L., & Settle, R. B. (2019). The Survey Research Handbook (Fourth Edition). McGraw-Hill Education.
• Qualtrics. (2021). What is User Research? A Beginner's Guide