In this newly revised Second Edition, you'll find six new essays that look at how UX research methods have changed in the last few years, why remote methods should not be the only tools you use, what to do about difficult test participants, how to improve your survey questions, how to identify user goals when you can’t directly observe users and how understanding your own epistemological bias will help you become a more persuasive UX researcher.
"After collating 14 manuscript witnesses of Rijal al-Kashi, comparing al-Tusi's recension with the original fragments preserved in al-Najashi, and cross-referencing al-Khoei’s Mu’jam Rijal al-Hadith (1983) with recent work on Kufan networks, the subject of entry 176 – Hassan ibn Ali ibn Faddal – carries the following status: His initial Fatahite deviation is historically confirmed. However, his later 'return' texts are graded as authentic via a separate chain (al-Kashi, route C). Applying the principle of 'companions of the Imams are presumed reliable after repentance unless proven otherwise,' and noting that al-Bazanti and al-Saffar narrated from him after his return, we upgrade his status from 'mamzuj' to 'hasan li ghayrihi' (good by virtue of corroboration). Thus, the 23 hadiths solely transmitted by him in Wasa’il al-Shia can be elevated from precautionary to actionable, provided they align with the Quran and sunna. Report prepared 28 Safar 1443 / October 2021."
Some analysts argue that by strict Rijali standards, the specific chain for Report 176 and its immediate successors in the text contain gaps or unreliable narrators.
Scholars analyze Report 176 through several critical lenses:
Instances where an Imam explicitly defends a loyal companion against slander or false accusations. Rijal Al Kashi Report 176 -2021-
– In 2021, a number of online Shi’i forums began citing Report 176 to argue that an otherwise reliable narrator could become unreliable later in life. The academic reports clarified that al-Kashi’s method requires strict chronological biography — something missing from most classical entries.
Al-Kashi comments: The apparent contradiction is resolved when one knows that the Imam praised him before his deviation, and condemned him after he fell into ghuluww (exaggeration) and narrated fabricated traditions on the authority of Abu al-Khattab.
When analyzing a specific index like , researchers isolate three core components: "After collating 14 manuscript witnesses of Rijal al-Kashi,
Regarded cautiously; Al-Kashi as an author is reliable ( Thiqa ), but his individual sources require strict scrutiny.
[Chain of Transmitters (Isnad)] │ ┌──────────────┴──────────────┐ [Transmitter A] [Transmitter B] │ ▼ [Report 176 Narrative] │ ┌───────────────┴───────────────┐ ▼ ▼ [Matn: Historical Dialogue] [Matn: Imamic Verdict] The Chain of Transmission ( Isnad )
Muhammad ibn Umar al-Kashshi, a 4th-century AH scholar, compiled a work designed to examine the reputations of companions of the Imams. Unlike other works that focus solely on establishing reliability, al-Kashi’s work often includes contrasting narrations—some praising a narrator and others condemning them. Thus, the 23 hadiths solely transmitted by him
When Qays ibn Sa'd was commanded to step forward and pledge allegiance, he paused and looked toward Imam Husayn for instruction. At that moment, Imam Husayn deflected the gaze and directed him toward his older brother, stating:
Explain the difference between and al-Tusi's approach to Rijal.
: Regarding the chieftaincy, the Imam warns that accepting such a position under a tyrant ruler could lead to sharing the guilt of an innocent Muslim's blood. He famously advises that if one "dislikes Jannah (Paradise)," only then should they accept such a role. Historical and Theological Significance
Report 176 and similar entries are rarely mere lists of names. They act as historical and theological mirrors, reflecting the turbulent environments in which the Imams operated. During the Umayyad and early Abbasid eras, the followers of the Imams faced heavy persecution, ideological infiltration, and political pressure.
Abu Hamza al-Thumali is a highly significant figure, known as a trusted companion of several Imams, including Ali al-Sajjad, and is the transmitter of the famous "Supplication of Abu Hamza al-Thumali". The primary content of Rijal al-Kashi's Report 176 details an accusation against him: it states that he used to consume nabidh (a type of fermented drink) and was accused of being a drunkard.
Since publication of the first edition, the main change, largely brought about by COVID and lockdowns, was a shift towards using remote UX research methods. So in this edition, we have added six new essays on the topic. Two essays describe the “how” of planning and conducting remote methods, both moderated and unmoderated. We also include new essays on test participants, on survey questions, and we reveal how your choice of UX research methods may reflect your own epistemological biases. We also flag the pitfalls of remote methods and include a cautionary essay on why they should never be the only UX research method you use.
David Travis has been carrying out ethnographic field research and running product usability tests since 1989. He has published three books on UX, and over 30,000 students have taken his face-to-face and online training courses. He has a PhD in Experimental Psychology.
Philip Hodgson has been a UX researcher for over 25years. His UX work has influenced design for the US, European and Asian markets for products ranging from banking software to medical devices, store displays to product packaging and police radios to baby diapers. He has a PhD in Experimental Psychology.