SARAH STUTTS
UX researcher using research to solve real-world problems, inform design approaches, & make business decisions
Professional Experience
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I have 5+ years of demonstrated experience performing applied research with a qualitative user-centered focus.
In 2019 I held a seasonal researcher position at Mindsight, a market research firm in Denver, Colorado, that specialized in custom consumer insight research projects for a variety of different consumer packaged good clients such as Truvia sweeteners, Bumblebee tuna, and Good Karma flax milk. As a qualitative researcher, I worked on projects such as segmentation studies, attitude & usage tests, and concept tests.
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From 2019- 2020, I worked as a survey research consultant in the evaluation department of the Perot Museum of Nature & Science in Dallas, Texas. I was tasked with creating, distributing, and analyzing user experience surveys.
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In 2020, I worked at Children's Medical Center in Dallas, Texas conducting user experience research of new alternative identification technology to traditional wristband IDs have been involved in data collection, analysis, and client-facing presentations throughout the research endeavor of testing this new technology among pediatric populations.
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In 2021, I have worked as a teaching fellow at the Univeristy of North Texas' Department of Design. This involved crafting a syllabus, lesson plans, and biweekly lectures to teach undergraduate design students about basic contextual research methods within the user experience design realm.
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From January 2022 to March 2023, I served as a UX researcher for AnswerLab LLC, a consultancy that connected me with clients such as Amazon Prime, Uber, and Google. For the majority of my time there, I worked in rapid research- running projects that lasted 7 business days start-to-finish and consisted of N=9 participants each week. These projects ranged from exploratory user research and concept testing to usability testing for design iteration. Responsibilities therein included project research plan design, stakeholder project alignment, confirming participant recruit criteria, interview guide authorship, user interview moderating, data analysis, report writing, and client-facing insight presentation within the given 7-day project period.
Degrees
University of North Texas
Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology
Minors in French and Social Science
August 2015- May 2018
GPA: 3.6
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University of North Texas
Master of Science in Applied Anthropology
Focus: Design Anthropology & UX research
August 2018 - December 2021
GPA: 3.8
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Conference Presentations
Society for Applied Anthropology 2019 - Portland, Oregon
Session: Drinking in the scenery: A panoramic approach to water quality evaluation
Paper: Perceptions of natural water quality: Applying cultural ecology to implement water protection strategies
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Session: From water buffaloes to self-driving cars: Turbulent times for road use, part 1
Paper: Navigating roadways: An ethnographic exploration of three types of road users
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Publications
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Contested Spaces, Shared Concerns: Road Interactions from the Perspective of Three User Groups
Published 11/30/2020 in the Journal of Business Anthropology
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Research Methods
Survey and screener designing, one-on-one interviews, participant observation, focus groups, mixed-method research, statistical analysis, sampling, data set cleaning, transcribing, qualitative coding, concept tests, packaging tests, segmentation studies, qualitative online bulletin board studies, diary studies, card sorting for information architecture and proficiency in resrearch softwares such as Dedoose, SPSS, and Qualtrics.
WHO I AM
I am an applied anthropologist and user experience researcher.
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I use ethnographic research methods to unearth the extraordinary in the ordinary. I am passionate about using research to create connections, creatively solve problems, and positively impact the lives of others. My anthropological training provides me with experience in both qualitative & quantitative research. I aim to use this research to inform decisions in design, creating innovative products, systems, and experiences that put humans and their complex cultures at the center of the process. I have demonstrated work history in qualitative & quantitative market research arenas, academic research, research in medical settings, and UX design research in technology.
RESEARCH PORTFOLIO
The Human Side of Research
USER EXPERIENCE OF HOSPITAL ID PATCH WITH PEDIATRIC POPULATIONS
Spring 2020
This is user experience research conducted at Children's Medical Center of Dallas. I am working for the manager of service design at the hospital to test new ID technology, and understand its functionality as compared to ID wristbands. An ID patch is very different from a wristband, and as such it requires user experience research to unearth user insights as to how this new product feels and functions- for child patients, parents of patients, and hospital staff who interact with medical identifiers. In this multi-phase research project, I use my ethnographic toolkit to explore the implications of this cutting edge technology within a pediatric hospital.
CREDENTIALING IN HIGHER EDUCATION: A UX STUDY OF THE STUDENT LEARNER RECORD
Fall 2020 - Summer 2021
This user-centered study filled a gap in literature: credentialing systems in higher education have long focused on credential efficacy and systemic implementation rather than encompassing student perceptions and user impressions. This was my Master's thesis research project, which spanned the course of a year and used methods such as participant observation, quantitative surveys, in-depth interviews, and usability testing to understand how students navigate the credentialing system and student learner record. The subsequent deliverable was a report detailing neccesary design updates to make the website more user-friendly, a marketing plan to increase overall engagement, and overall best practices for implementation.
I'MÂ PASSIONATE ABOUT RESEARCH
Whether it's riding on a road bike behind a cyclist with an action camera strapped to my head, or a simple card-sorting activity, I love conducting research and connecting with people!
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I believe that each individual is an expert in their own lived experience, and as such, has valuable input when it comes to understanding the bigger picture. Holistic research is key.
SEND ME A MESSAGE
Thanks for your interest in my research. If you want to collaborate, are seeking a researcher, or have any questions for me, please get in touch. I’d love to hear from you.
COMMUTING TO UNT
Fall 2016
A research project with an environmental anthropology focus, done for our client, the UNT Department of Transportation. Surveys and interviews were issued to assess perceptions of bus line efficiency and North Texas air quality. The subsequent data were analyzed to provide recommendations and insight regarding commuter trends and bus line efficiency on campus.
CITY OF DENTON 2020 PLAN PROJECT
Spring 2017
A research project conducted within several neighborhoods in the heart of Denton, Texas for the Denton City Plan for 2020. Interviews and surveys were issued to understand problems, concerns, wishes, and desires for residents of each respective neighborhood. Data was synthesized into a report presented to the city planner to integrate into policy, urban planning, and infrastructure.
ROAD USER EXPERIENCE
Fall 2018
Qualitative research project encompassing perceptions of three separate road user groups as well as experiences of interactants with autonomous shuttles, using qualitative & mixed methods analysis software. Completed for Nissan Research Center of Silicon Valley for research in the development of autonomous vehicles.
WATER & BELIEFS
Fall 2018
A qualitative research project conducted for the North Texas Municipal Water District to assess perceptions and behaviors surrounding natural water quality in the district. Data was used to better understand behavior and attitudes regarding water usage and propose solutions for education & outreach to protect natural water quality in the North Texas area.
AAA ANTHROPOLOGY CAREER SURVEY
2019-2020
A project concerned with re-issuing a survey originally done by CoPAPIA for the American Anthropological Association in 2009, to assess the current career market and distribution of U.S. residents with Master's degrees in anthropology, as compared to ten years ago. This included survey design, promotion of the survey release, distribution to online platforms, subsequent data analysis, coding, and a write-up for the AAA.
USABILITY ASSESSMENT OF THE FEDERAL STUDENT AID WEBSITE
Spring 2020
A small-scale usability test of the Federal Student Aid website in which a variety of participants were asked to complete a series of tasks on the FSA website. These tasks (average completion time, pass/fail rate) were recorded via UserZoom and analyzed to produce subsequent design recommendations. Below is the fall report including findings & recommendations.