Rethinking Cultural UX Evaluation: A Taxonomy for Contextual and Mixed-Methods Research

Cultural heritage experiences present unique challenges for user experience (UX) evaluation due to their diversity, contextual variability, and the growing need to balance methodological rigor with low cognitive effort. Traditional UX frameworks often assume a one-size-fits-all approach, which fails to address the complexity of cultural heritage environments. This paper introduces a flexible taxonomy of UX evaluation methodologies designed as a decision-support tool for researchers and practitioners. The taxonomy is built on 11 core dimensions: study type, research phase, research objective, evaluation timing, data nature, facilitation setup, observation setup, research environment, participant profile, cognitive burden, and evaluation standards and instruments. Rather than prescribing a single method, the taxonomy enables the selection and combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches tailored to the context and phase of each cultural heritage project. Representative examples illustrate its application in guiding mixed-methods strategies for measuring cultural resonance. By promoting adaptability and methodological diversity, this work advances human-centered UX evaluation practices for cultural heritage and beyond.