---
name: customer-research-validation
description: Plan, conduct, synthesize, and review customer research and demand validation. Use when Codex is asked about customer interviews, surveys, usability studies, JTBD, buyer discovery, problem validation, demand validation, research scripts, research synthesis, voice-of-customer analysis, customer evidence, or research-backed product/marketing decisions.
---

# Customer Research Validation

## Core Workflow

1. Define the decision the research must inform. Do not research for vague reassurance.
2. Identify target participants, recruitment criteria, segment, context, and expected bias.
3. Choose method: interview, survey, usability study, diary study, sales-call analysis, support-ticket analysis, review mining, landing-page test, concierge test, or prototype test.
4. Write neutral research questions that explore behavior, context, constraints, alternatives, and willingness to change.
5. Capture raw evidence separately from interpretation.
6. Synthesize patterns by segment, frequency, severity, business impact, and confidence.
7. Convert findings into decisions, risks, and next validation steps.

## Research Principles

- Ask about past behavior before future intent.
- Avoid leading questions and solution pitching during discovery.
- Distinguish problem evidence, demand evidence, usability evidence, and preference signals.
- Treat small samples as directional unless the method supports stronger claims.
- Look for disconfirming evidence and segment differences.

## Deliverable Shape

For research work, provide:

- Decision to inform
- Research questions
- Participant criteria
- Method and script
- Evidence capture plan
- Synthesis framework
- Findings, confidence, and next decisions

## References

- Read `references/customer-research-checklist.md` when planning, conducting, or synthesizing customer research.