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USER RESEARCH / TRENDS

USER RESEARCH / TRENDS

USER RESEARCH / TRENDS

Research Tool Adoption by Work Shape

100%

75%

50%

25%

0%

Corporate ICs

Corporate Leaders

Growth ICs

Growth Leaders

Startup ICs

Startup Leaders

Agency ICs

Agency Leaders

Solo In-House

Independent

Educators

Students

Overal Average

Testing tools

Recruiting tools

Repository tools

Research Tool Adoption by Work Shape

100%

75%

50%

25%

0%

Corporate ICs

Corporate Leaders

Growth ICs

Growth Leaders

Startup ICs

Startup Leaders

Agency ICs

Agency Leaders

Solo In-House

Independent

Educators

Students

Overal Average

Testing

Recruiting

Repository

Research Tool Adoption by Work Shape

100%

75%

50%

25%

0%

Corporate ICs

Corporate Leaders

Growth ICs

Growth Leaders

Startup ICs

Startup Leaders

Agency ICs

Agency Leaders

Solo In-House

Independent

Educators

Students

Overal Average

Testing

Recruiting

Repository

Summary: The Research Tool Landscape

Three clear patterns are emerging:

1

Persistent Fragmentation

Unlike design tools, no research tool exceeds 13% adoption, reflecting diverse methodological needs and specialized contexts.

2

Tool Satisfaction Inversions

Specialized tools (Optimal Workshop, Dovetail) achieve higher satisfaction than popular options, suggesting quality-adoption trade-offs.

3

Work Shape Variations

Corporate environments show 2× higher adoption rates than independent designers, highlighting resource and organizational influences.

Summary: The Research Tool Landscape

Three clear patterns are emerging:

1

Persistent Fragmentation

Unlike design tools, no research tool exceeds 13% adoption, reflecting diverse methodological needs and specialized contexts.

2

Tool Satisfaction Inversions

Specialized tools (Optimal Workshop, Dovetail) achieve higher satisfaction than popular options, suggesting quality-adoption trade-offs.

3

Work Shape Variations

Corporate environments show 2× higher adoption rates than independent designers, highlighting resource and organizational influences.

Summary: The Research Tool Landscape

Three clear patterns are emerging:

1

Persistent Fragmentation

Unlike design tools, no research tool exceeds 13% adoption, reflecting diverse methodological needs and specialized contexts.

2

Tool Satisfaction Inversions

Specialized tools (Optimal Workshop, Dovetail) achieve higher satisfaction than popular options, suggesting quality-adoption trade-offs.

3

Work Shape Variations

Corporate environments show 2× higher adoption rates than independent designers, highlighting resource and organizational influences.

By 2027, user research tool consolidation will approach UI tool levels.

While UI tools show extreme consolidation, research tools remain fragmented with Dovetail (9.0%), Notion (5.9%), and many others sharing the market. However, Research-Driven Practitioners report the highest percentage of pain points around disconnected research systems.

Affected work shapes: Corporate environments will lead consolidation (42.1% already using repository tools)

By 2027, user research tool consolidation will approach UI tool levels.

While UI tools show extreme consolidation, research tools remain fragmented with Dovetail (9.0%), Notion (5.9%), and many others sharing the market. However, Research-Driven Practitioners report the highest percentage of pain points around disconnected research systems.

Affected work shapes: Corporate environments will lead consolidation (42.1% already using repository tools)

By 2027, user research tool consolidation will approach UI tool levels.

While UI tools show extreme consolidation, research tools remain fragmented with Dovetail (9.0%), Notion (5.9%), and many others sharing the market. However, Research-Driven Practitioners report the highest percentage of pain points around disconnected research systems.

Affected work shapes: Corporate environments will lead consolidation (42.1% already using repository tools)