Should we ask users what they want? [closed]

1. Why can t UX user experience researchers just ask people what new features and products they want?
2. What would you ask users if you had two goods and only had one question to determine which they preferred?

Why can t UX user experience researchers just ask people what new features and products they want?

Good UX research, however, does not ask people what they want. That's because people find it difficult to put themselves in imaginary situations, especially in cases where they need to picture a future with products and technology that do not currently exist. Such a study would not yield valid results.

What would you ask users if you had two goods and only had one question to determine which they preferred?

I'd need to know what the product is, and what kind of a construct we're most concerned with: ease-of-use, learnability, satisfaction over time, etc. If it's truly just generic user preference, I would literally just ask: “Do you have a preference for either of these products?