How To Turn Research Into Recommendations

You've just conducted rigorous research, whether it's usability testing, card sorting, or heuristic evaluation. What comes next? How do you turn all that information into actionable recommendations?

This blog post will walk you through the crucial steps of synthesizing insights, crafting recommendations, and effectively presenting your findings to stakeholders

Organize and prioritize insights Link to this headline

Before jumping into recommendations, the first step is to structure your findings in a meaningful way. Start with identifying patterns, recurring issues, and emerging themes from your research.

Instead of looking at individual data points in isolation, focus on how they connect to the bigger picture. Grouping similar findings helps in understanding overarching trends, making it easier to to tell the story to your stakeholders whilst crafting targeted solutions.

Once patterns are identified, the next step is prioritization. Not all insights carry the same weight, and some require immediate attention while others can be addressed over time. A useful way to prioritize is by assessing the severity of an issue—whether it’s critical, major, or minor.

Another approach is the Effort vs. Impact matrix, which helps determine which changes will have the most significant effect with the least effort. To achieve true value, it is important to align your insights with business objectives. If a usability issue directly affects conversion rates or retention, it should take precedence over less impactful concerns.

Turn insights into actionable recommendations Link to this headline

With well-organized insights, the next step is crafting actionable recommendations. A common mistake researchers make is providing vague or overly general suggestions. Instead of stating that “users struggle with navigation,” it’s far more effective to specify the exact problem and solution, such as: “Users find it difficult to locate the checkout button. To improve visibility, we recommend increasing the button’s contrast and placing it above the fold.”

The more precise the recommendation, the easier it is for teams to implement changes. And every recommendation should be supported by evidence. Whether it's user quotes, heatmaps, session recordings, or quantitative data, backing up your suggestions with evidence ensures credibility and buy-in from stakeholders.

Feasibility should also be considered. While an ideal solution may exist, it’s essential to acknowledge business constraints, technical limitations, and timelines when making recommendations. A balance between user needs and practical implementation is key to driving real change.

Structure your report for maximum Impact Link to this headline

Presenting research findings effectively is just as important as conducting the research itself. If recommendations are scattered or difficult to understand, they are unlikely to be implemented.

Begin with a section detailing the research methodology provides transparency into how the data was collected. This can include participant details, testing conditions, and the methods used. The core of the report should focus on key insights and recommendations, ensuring that each finding is paired with a clear, actionable solution. To strengthen the case for each recommendation, supporting evidence such as screenshots, user quotes, or data visualizations should be included. Finally, an outline of next steps helps keep the momentum going by specifying what needs to be done, who is responsible, and expected timelines for implementation.

Deliver recommendations effectively Link to this headline

How you share research findings can determine whether they drive action or get ignored. While detailed reports are great for documentation, stakeholders often need something more digestible. A visually engaging slide deck highlights key insights clearly, while an interactive workshop invites discussion and real-time prioritization.

Tailoring your presentation to your audience is key. Executives want high-level takeaways and business impact, while designers and developers need deeper insights and practical guidance. The right format makes all the difference—when research is presented effectively, it's far more likely to turn into action.

Conclusion Link to this headline

Turning research into actionable recommendations is a crucial skill in UX. Without clear, well-structured recommendations, even the most insightful findings can be overlooked. By organizing data, proposing practical solutions, and presenting findings in an engaging way, UX researchers can turn research into real product improvements. The goal isn’t just to identify problems, it’s to drive meaningful change that enhances user experiences.

Now it’s your turn. Take your research, sharpen your insights, and craft recommendations that make a real impact. Your work has the power to shape better products—so let’s make it count.