Think of applied linguistics as language user research. Applied linguists explore the ways people learn and use language and apply their research findings to solve problems in education and other fields. UX research involves asking similar questions about users’ needs and behaviors with a focus on their experiences of products and content. 

Researchers in both fields ask questions like:

• How do people accomplish specific tasks or processes? What processes do they engage in? What tools do they use? What are their motivations for using these tools?
• What do people need to know in order to complete a task effectively in a specific context?
• What are the most effective ways to teach people to use a new product or feature?
• How do people’s identities inform their product choices, and vice versa? How can design teams improve their products to better align with the needs and motivations of specific user segments?

Researchers in both fields apply an array of research methods, such as interviews, think-aloud protocols, ethnographic observations, and surveys. Both UX research and applied linguistics draw on theories and methods from anthropology, sociology, psychology, and other social science fields. Both fields are also human centered, putting real people’s needs at the center of the problem-solving and design process.

My experience in both applied linguistics and UX research has prepared me to conduct UX research studies with particular attention to the role of language in the user experience and the ways people voice their needs and experiences. For specific examples of how applied linguistics research intersects with UX research, please read my case studies on user reviews of ghostwriting services and how students seek writing support.