# Research & Information Architecture

> What the change means for UX research and information architecture — mental models, intent, and the discoverability barrier.

UX researchers and information architects make visible the intents, barriers and mental models that navigation data cannot describe alone.

## What changes for research & IA

* **Map the intent people cannot name.** Because of the discoverability barrier, observed behaviour under-estimates what users would delegate. Design for the non-prompter as the normal case, not the edge. See [Intent-based interaction](https://www.shaped-by-ai.com/en/impacts/what-is-happening/search-becomes-conversation/intent-based-interaction/).
* **Top-down navigation coexists with intent.** Those who start from their own case skip the hierarchy. Do not delete the structure: flank it with direct, intent-based access. See [The user's language replaces the system's taxonomy](https://www.shaped-by-ai.com/en/impacts/what-is-happening/the-conversational-interface/user-language-replaces-taxonomy/).
* **AI literacy as a research variable.** Trust calibration diverges between stated and acted trust; measure it behaviourally. See [Trust, AI literacy and calibration](https://www.shaped-by-ai.com/en/impacts/what-is-happening/cross-cutting-themes/trust-ai-literacy-calibration/).
* **The private conversation is unobservable.** The most influential brand conversation happens in private chats no research method reaches. See [The conversations you cannot observe](https://www.shaped-by-ai.com/en/impacts/what-is-happening/search-becomes-conversation/the-conversations-you-cannot-observe/).

## Responsibilities and actions

1. Distinguish observed behaviour, expressed intent and intent that users have not yet articulated.
2. Test taxonomy, intent architecture and accessibility together with diverse users.
3. Define measures for first-attempt success, time to first useful result and trust calibration.
4. Bring decisions requiring mandates on nomenclature, delegation and risk to Product and Leadership.