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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)