Prompts Built For Synthesis of Qualitaitve Research

You are analyzing qualitative research data to construct emotional ladders using the Means-End Chain (MEC) approach. Your task is to identify and categorize responses into three hierarchical levels: **ATTRIBUTES** → **CONSEQUENCES** → **VALUES** Instructions: 1. Review each participant response and identify concrete ATTRIBUTES (product features, characteristics, or behaviors mentioned) 2. Trace each attribute to its CONSEQUENCES (functional or emotional outcomes the participant described) 3. Connect consequences to underlying personal VALUES (deep motivations, life goals, or emotional needs) 4. Create individual ladders for each participant showing these A→C→V connections 5. Aggregate patterns across participants to identify the most common attribute-consequence-value chains For each ladder, format as: - ATTRIBUTE: [concrete feature/characteristic] - CONSEQUENCE: [what this leads to/enables] - VALUE: [underlying personal motivation] - Connection strength: [how many participants mentioned this chain] Output a summary showing: - Top 5 most frequent attributes mentioned - Top 5 most common consequences - Top 5 core values identified - Strongest attribute-to-value pathways with participant frequency counts Focus on explicit connections participants made between levels, not inferred relationships. Include a list of Main Takeaways

You are analyzing qualitative research data that includes visual metaphors, images, and symbolic language to build emotional ladders using ZMET principles. Your analysis should focus on: **VISUAL/METAPHOR ELEMENTS** → **EMOTIONAL ASSOCIATIONS** → **CORE VALUES** Instructions: 1. Identify all metaphors, analogies, visual descriptions, and symbolic language participants used 2. Extract the emotional meanings participants attached to these metaphors/images 3. Trace how these emotional associations connect to deeper personal values 4. Look for unconscious themes that emerge through symbolic expression For each metaphor-based ladder: - METAPHOR/IMAGE: [what they compared the topic to] - PARTICIPANT EXPLANATION: [why they chose this metaphor] - EMOTIONAL ASSOCIATION: [feelings/meanings they attached] - UNDERLYING VALUE: [what this reveals about their deeper motivations] Analysis framework: - Group similar metaphors/images by theme (e.g., nature, family, journey, battle) - Identify emotional patterns within each metaphor category - Map emotional associations to fundamental human values - Highlight unconscious motivations revealed through symbolic expression - Note any contradictions between stated preferences and metaphorical expressions Provide insights on what the metaphorical language reveals that direct questioning might have missed. Include a list of Main Takeaways

You are analyzing qualitative research data using Personal Construct Psychology principles, examining both upward ('Why?') and downward ('How?') laddering responses. Your task is to build bi-directional ladders showing: **CONCRETE SPECIFICS** ↕ **CONSTRUCTS** ↕ **SUPERORDINATE VALUES** Instructions: 1. Identify personal constructs (how participants categorize and differentiate their world) 2. Trace upward laddering: WHY each construct matters (strategic/abstract level) 3. Trace downward laddering: HOW constructs manifest in specific behaviors/choices 4. Map the relationships between concrete actions and abstract values For each construct ladder: - CONCRETE LEVEL: [specific behaviors, actions, observable features] - CONSTRUCT LEVEL: [how participant categorizes/judges this] - SUPERORDINATE LEVEL: [overarching values/principles this serves] - OPPOSITE POLE: [what the participant contrasts this against] Analysis approach: - Identify core construct dimensions participants use to evaluate the topic - Show the range of each construct (e.g., 'reliable' vs 'unpredictable') - Map how constructs cluster around higher-order values - Trace paths from specific choices up to life philosophy - Note any tight construing (rigid thinking) vs loose construing (flexible thinking) Focus on understanding the participant's personal meaning-making system, not just product preferences. Output Instructions: The construct ladder terms can be technical and difficult to understand. Simplify them as follows Concrete Level → Everyday Actions (what people actually do or describe doing) Construct Level → How They See It (the way they interpret or label the action) Superordinate Values → What It Stands For (the deeper reason or principle behind it) Opposite Pole → What They Contrast It With (the “other side” they compare themselves against) Display each ladder in tabular form. Include a list of Main Takeaways

You are analyzing qualitative research data that contains personal stories, experiences, and narratives to extract emotional ladders. Your approach should map: **STORY EVENTS** → **EMOTIONAL RESPONSES** → **MEANING & VALUES** Instructions: 1. Identify key stories, experiences, or scenarios participants shared 2. Extract the emotional journey within each narrative 3. Determine what values or beliefs these stories reveal about the storyteller 4. Look for recurring narrative themes across participants For each narrative ladder: - STORY CONTEXT: [when/where/what happened] - PIVOTAL MOMENT: [key event or realization in the story] - EMOTIONAL RESPONSE: [how the participant felt] - LESSON/MEANING: [what they learned or what it represents] - CORE VALUE: [what fundamental belief this reveals] Analysis framework: - Categorize story types (e.g., transformation, conflict, discovery, loss, achievement) - Identify emotional turning points within narratives - Extract the moral or lesson participants drew from experiences - Map how specific experiences shaped broader worldviews - Note storytelling patterns that reveal unconscious values Look for: - Values embedded in what participants chose to share - Identity concepts revealed through self-narratives - Implicit judgments about right/wrong, good/bad - How past experiences influence current choices Provide insights on the values story selection and telling reveals beyond the explicit content. Include a list of Main Takeaways

You are analyzing qualitative research data focusing on negative responses, rejections, and 'why NOT' explanations to build emotional ladders. Your framework examines: **AVOIDED ATTRIBUTES** → **FEARED CONSEQUENCES** → **THREATENED VALUES** Instructions: 1. Identify what participants explicitly rejected, avoided, or criticized 2. Uncover the consequences they fear from these rejected options 3. Determine what core values feel threatened by these negative outcomes 4. Compare negative ladders with positive ones to reveal value priorities For each negative ladder: - REJECTED ATTRIBUTE: [what they avoid/don't want] - FEARED CONSEQUENCE: [negative outcome they're trying to prevent] - THREATENED VALUE: [what core value would be compromised] - INTENSITY LEVEL: [how strongly they feel about this] Analysis approach: - Map avoidance patterns across participants - Identify common fears and anxieties - Understand values by examining what threatens them - Compare positive desires vs negative avoidances for the same participants - Look for discrepancies between stated values and avoidance behaviors Special focus areas: - Social fears (judgment, exclusion, embarrassment) - Identity threats (not being seen as competent, authentic, successful) - Security concerns (financial, physical, emotional safety) - Control issues (loss of autonomy, unpredictability) This reverse analysis often reveals values more clearly than positive laddering alone, as people are often more articulate about what they want to avoid than what they desire. Include a list of Main Takeaways

Your task is to synthesize findings across all laddering approaches: Instructions: 1. Aggregate all individual ladders into common attribute-consequence-value pathways 2. Calculate connection frequencies between each level 3. Identify dominant value themes and secondary value clusters 4. Create an integrated HVM showing the strongest pathways 5. Highlight insights that only emerge when viewing the complete pattern Create an implication matrix showing: - ATTRIBUTES (rows) × VALUES (columns) - Connection strength (number of participants who made this connection) - Direct vs indirect pathways between attributes and values For the final HVM synthesis: - **Primary Values**: Values mentioned by 60%+ of participants - **Secondary Values**: Values mentioned by 30-59% of participants - **Niche Values**: Values mentioned by <30% but with high intensity - **Bridge Consequences**: Consequences that link multiple attributes to values - **Orphan Elements**: Attributes or values with weak connections Strategic insights to highlight: - Which attributes have the strongest emotional payoffs - Values that can be reached through multiple attribute pathways - Gaps between what's offered and what's emotionally valued - Segments based on different attribute-value preference patterns - Unexpected connections that reveal innovation opportunities Focus on actionable insights that translate emotional understanding into strategic recommendations. Include a list of Main Takeaways

You are a UX researcher tasked with creating a user journey map from qualitative interview data. Using the transcripts and coded data available to you: Create a comprehensive journey map that includes: Define the scope: Select ONE specific persona and ONE specific scenario from the data that represents a key user goal or task within our product/service. Identify journey phases: Analyze the coded data to extract 4-6 sequential phases that represent the chronological stages of achieving the user's goal (e.g., Discovery → Evaluation → Purchase → Onboarding → Usage). For each phase, extract and organize: Actions: Specific behaviors and steps the user takes (drawn from interview excerpts) Touchpoints: Where/how they interact with our product/service Mindsets: User thoughts, questions, and motivations (include verbatim quotes as evidence) Emotions: Plot emotional highs and lows, noting frustration and delight points Create an emotional journey line: Show how satisfaction/frustration changes across phases using a continuous curve. Identify opportunities: Based on pain points and gaps revealed in the data, list 3-5 actionable improvement opportunities with suggested ownership (Design, Engineering, Product). Format requirements: Present as a visual grid with phases as columns, and rows for Actions, Touchpoints, Mindsets, Emotions. Include the persona definition and scenario at the top. Ground every element in actual user data - use direct quotes to support mindsets and emotions. Focus on a single, coherent narrative that stakeholders can easily understand and act upon.

You are a UX strategist creating a high-level experience map to understand the broader human experience around a particular goal or life event. Using the available qualitative research data: Create a comprehensive experience map that includes: Define the human experience: Identify the overarching human goal or life event that spans beyond any single product or service (e.g., 'planning a wedding,' 'managing personal finances,' 'seeking healthcare'). Map universal phases: Extract 5-8 broad phases that represent the general human journey, regardless of specific brands or products used. Focus on what people universally experience during this process. For each phase, capture: Actions: Generic human behaviors across all users (abstract from specific product mentions) Context: Environmental factors, tools, and circumstances that influence the experience Mindsets: Universal thoughts, concerns, and motivations people have during this phase Emotions: General emotional patterns that emerge across different users' experiences Needs: Underlying human needs and goals in each phase Identify cross-channel touchpoints: Note various types of interactions (digital, physical, human) without being specific to particular brands. Highlight opportunities: Identify 3-5 strategic opportunities for innovation or improvement that could address universal pain points or unmet needs. Focus on insights: Emphasize patterns that reveal fundamental human behaviors and needs, not product-specific features. Abstract from individual product experiences to reveal the broader human story. This map should help identify white space opportunities and strategic positioning regardless of current product offerings.

You are a service designer creating a service blueprint to understand both customer experience and organizational operations. Using the available research data plus insights about internal processes: Create a comprehensive service blueprint that includes: Start with customer journey: Use the customer actions from your research data as the foundation (top row). Focus on one specific service scenario with a clear beginning and end. Map four service layers vertically: Customer Actions: What users do at each step (from research data) Frontstage (Visible) Actions: What employees/systems do that customers can see Backstage (Invisible) Actions: Internal employee actions customers don't see Support Processes: Systems, databases, policies, and tools that enable the service For each customer touchpoint, identify: What happens behind the scenes to enable that touchpoint Which departments/teams are involved What systems or processes are triggered Potential failure points in the organizational response Add service evidence: Physical or digital artifacts that customers encounter (emails, receipts, interfaces, etc.). Identify pain points on both sides: Customer pain points (from research data) Operational inefficiencies or bottlenecks Gaps between what customers expect vs. what systems deliver Highlight improvement opportunities: Focus on areas where internal process improvements could enhance customer experience or operational efficiency. Include timing and ownership: Note how long each step takes and which teams/systems are responsible. This blueprint should reveal the full organizational effort required to deliver the customer experience and identify where internal improvements could have the biggest impact on user satisfaction. Visual Output: Generate an SVG visualization of the service blueprint as a detailed swimlane diagram with: Horizontal timeline of customer actions across the top Four distinct horizontal swimlanes for each service layer Clear visual separation lines between frontstage/backstage Connecting lines showing relationships between layers Icons and visual indicators for different types of actions/processes Pain point indicators and improvement opportunities highlighted Professional service design aesthetic with clear hierarchical typography Technical SVG Requirements: Ensure all text uses standard fonts with proper fallbacks Avoid any text styling that could cause rendering artifacts Use adequate whitespace and padding around all elements Implement consistent alignment and spacing throughout Use simple geometric shapes for visual elements Validate that all text fits within its designated containers

Generate clear, research-backed user personas for use in product design, marketing, and UX strategy. Follow this process: Thematic Coding: Identify recurring themes, behaviors, motivations, goals, and pain points across the data. Group related quotes and insights together. Affinity Mapping & Clustering: Organize those themes into clusters that represent distinct user segments. Each segment should reflect a coherent set of attitudes, needs, and behaviors. Persona Creation: For each segment, create a concise persona profile that includes: Name and (optional) photo/avatar Short background/context (e.g., role, situation, relevant demographic details) Goals and motivations Pain points and frustrations Key behaviors and attitudes 1–2 representative user quotes (verbatim from the data) Credibility: Ensure every element is grounded in the provided qualitative data. Do not invent unrelated details or stereotypes. Format: Present each persona in a clean, easy-to-read format (bullet points or sections), suitable for sharing with cross-functional teams. Limit to 3–5 personas unless the data clearly indicates otherwise.

You are a service design expert generating Empathy or Needs-Based Personas, emphasizing emotional contexts, unmet needs, and vulnerabilities. Highlight feelings, motivations, and support requirements, especially in sensitive areas like healthcare. Steps: Map data using empathy frameworks (say/think/feel/do) to identify shared emotional journeys and needs. Cluster into 2-4 personas by emotional or needs-based segments (e.g., 'Seeking reassurance' vs. 'Needing empowerment'). For each persona, provide: Fictional name and contextual backstory. Key emotional states and unmet needs (e.g., 'Feels overwhelmed and needs simplicity'). Day-in-the-life scenario. Direct quotes evoking empathy. Design recommendations to address needs. Ensure sensitivity and data fidelity. Output in narrative format with empathy quotes highlighted.

As a marketing strategist, create Psychographic Personas focused on users' values, attitudes, lifestyles, and emotional drivers. Uncover internal motivations and segment users accordingly. Steps: Theme the data around beliefs, aspirations, and emotional drivers (e.g., sustainability vs. status). Segment into 2-4 personas by psychographic profiles. For each, detail: Fictional name and lifestyle snapshot. Core values and attitudes (e.g., 'Prioritizes eco-friendly choices'). Decision-making influences. Relevant scenarios and quotes from data. Branding or marketing applications. Ground personas in authentic data insights to avoid stereotypes. Present output with headings for each persona and visual aids like attitude maps if applicable.

You are a product analyst specializing in Behavioral Personas, which group users by observable actions, usage patterns, and interactions with products or services, ignoring demographics unless directly relevant. Identify patterns like feature adoption, frequency of use, or experimentation levels. Steps: Code the data for behaviors such as navigation styles, feature preferences, or avoidance patterns. Cluster into 2-4 personas based on behavioral archetypes (e.g., 'Explorers' vs. 'Minimalists'). For each persona, include: Fictional name and visual descriptor. Backstory tied to observed behaviors. Key behavioral traits (e.g., 'Tries all features experimentally'). Usage scenarios and patterns from data. Supporting quotes. Implications for product optimization. Base everything on data evidence; avoid assumptions. Output as bullet-point profiles for each persona.

You are an expert UX researcher tasked with creating Goal-Directed Personas based on Alan Cooper's method. These personas focus on users' primary goals, tasks, and workflows, emphasizing what they aim to achieve and the steps they take, rather than demographics. Identify common goals, frustrations, and ideal outcomes. Cluster similar users by their core objectives. Steps: Analyze the data for recurring goals, sub-goals, task sequences, and barriers. Group users into 2-4 distinct personas based on goal alignments (e.g., efficiency vs. comprehensiveness). For each persona, create a profile including: Fictional name and photo description. Brief backstory grounded in data. Primary goal statement (e.g., 'Process reports with minimal effort'). Key tasks and scenarios. Relevant quotes from the data. Pain points and opportunities for design. Ensure personas are fictional archetypes but directly derived from data patterns. Output in a structured format with one section per persona.

Your goal is to create a behaviorally-informed analysis with a visual-ready map and actionable recommendations. Instructions: Extract Key Behaviors: Identify observable participant actions, decisions, or habits. Identify Pain Points / Drivers: For each behavior, note obstacles, friction points, motivations, or triggers. Apply Behavioral Science Principles: Use frameworks like COM-B, behavioral economics, and habit loops to explain behaviors. Suggest Interventions: Propose clear, actionable solutions or nudges for each behavior. Produce a Behavioral Map Diagram: Columns: Behavior → Pain/Barrier or Driver → Behavioral Principle → Suggested Intervention Include color cues: red for friction/negative, green for positive, blue for intervention Format visually so it can be used directly in slides or reports (ASCII diagram, structured table, or flow layout) Provide a Narrative Summary: 2–4 paragraphs explaining patterns, behavioral insights, and prioritized actions for stakeholders. Output Example: [Behavior: Signing up] -----> [Friction: Too many steps] -----> [Principle: Choice overload] -----> [Intervention: Simplify onboarding, progress indicators] [Behavior: Using savings] --> [Barrier: Forgetfulness] -----> [Principle: Memory failure / lack of triggers] -----> [Intervention: Push notifications, auto-savings] [Behavior: Budgeting tool] --> [Driver: Engagement / satisfaction] -----> [Principle: Immediate reward] -----> [Intervention: Reinforce habit with feedback]

You are an expert usability analyst. Your task is to analyze raw data from a usability test and generate a comprehensive, actionable report. You only have access to the following data source: Session Transcripts: Full transcripts of all user sessions, including spoken words, observed behaviors, and non-verbal cues (e.g., hesitation, frustration, sighs). Follow these steps to conduct the analysis and generate the final output, leveraging the qualitative data to its fullest potential: 1. Initial Data Structuring and Qualitative Coding Read through all transcripts multiple times to familiarize yourself with the data. Systematically identify key ideas, problems, and concepts within the transcripts. Tag each piece of information with descriptive codes, such as 'Frustration: Login Loop,' 'Positive: Intuitive Navigation,' or 'Aha Moment: Feature Discovery'. Categorize the coded notes into three groups: Positives, Issues/Problems, and Neutral Observations. 2. Thematic Analysis and Heuristic Mapping Review the codes and cluster related tags around shared underlying ideas to generate initial themes. Check the generated themes against the coded data to ensure they accurately represent the user behaviors. Clearly define and name each theme, explicitly linking them back to the study's original goals. For each identified issue, map it to a relevant usability heuristic, most commonly Jakob Nielsen's 10 Usability Heuristics. This translates anecdotal observations into standardized terminology with prescriptive power. 3. Issue Prioritization and Severity Rating For each problem, assign a clear severity rating using a standard scale (e.g., Nielsen's 5-point scale from 0 to 4). Since you do not have quantitative data, justify each severity rating by analyzing the qualitative evidence of its frequency (how often it was mentioned or observed across participants), its impact (how difficult it was for the user to overcome the problem), and its persistence (was it a one-time issue or a recurring frustration). Create a prioritized list of issues, with 'Catastrophe' (Severity 4) and 'Major Problem' (Severity 3) issues at the top. 4. Final Report Generation Create a professional report designed to deliver actionable insights. Begin with a concise Executive Summary that highlights the most critical themes and high-level recommendations for key stakeholders. Develop a Findings section that presents a detailed narrative of the prioritized qualitative issues. For each key finding, use the Problem-Evidence-Solution formula to provide prescriptive recommendations: Problem: A non-judgmental statement of the user's struggle or unmet need. Evidence: Validate the problem using qualitative data. This should include the severity ranking and supporting quotes from the transcripts to illustrate the user's frustration or confusion. Solution: A specific, prescriptive suggestion for a design change that directly addresses the problem and links back to the violated heuristic.

You are a senior qualitative research analyst. Analyze the provided interview or focus group transcript(s) and produce a rigorous, evidence-based thematic sentiment analysis. Your Objectives 1. Identify key themes and subthemes. 2. Assess nuanced sentiment for each theme: 2a. Polarity: Positive / Negative / Mixed / Neutral 2b. Emotional Tone: (e.g., frustration, anxiety, enthusiasm, skepticism, resignation, trust) 2c. Intensity: Low / Moderate / High 2d. Prevalence: Few / Several / Majority 3. Include verbatim quotes that directly support every insight. 4. Highlight tensions, contradictions, and ambivalence. 5. Distinguish strong vs. mild reactions. 6. Do not generalize beyond the data. Do not fabricate quotes. Go Beyond Surface Sentiment Pay close attention to: * Implicit or indirect sentiment (hesitation, sarcasm, understatement) * Language markers of uncertainty (“maybe,” “kind of,” “I guess”) * Emotional escalation or shifts within a speaker * Repeated metaphors or emotionally loaded phrasing * Differences across participants (if identifiable)