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Getting started as a researcher

The path from a research question to results, step by step.

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Written by Jyoshita

This is the path from a question to results. Your first study takes about twenty minutes to set up.

1. Start with what you want to learn

Not the method, the question. "Why do people abandon our trial in week two" is a good starting point. The method follows from it.

Describe that to the study builder in plain language. It will ask a few clarifying questions and draft a study, including the screening questions used to find the right people.

You can also upload a brief, a research plan or an existing document and have it build from that.



2. Pick a method

Four to choose from, and the builder will suggest one:

  • A survey for structured answers at scale.

  • An AI interview for conversational depth without scheduling anything.

  • A moderated interview when you want to talk to someone yourself.

  • An unmoderated test when you need to watch people actually use something.

See Study types: which to use when if you're unsure.

3. Choose your audience

Describe who you need: role, industry, company size, and any experience that matters (like having recently evaluated a vendor).

  • Professional audiences: our recruitment team takes that brief and sources the people.

  • Consumer audiences: we recruit through panel partnerships.

  • Already have the people? Invite them with a link instead.

Before you launch you'll get an honest view of whether your criteria are findable, and roughly how long it will take.



4. Review and launch

Check the screening questions, the study itself, and the incentive. You'll see the full cost: with credits and participant incentives shown separately, before anything is charged.

5. Watch it fill

Responses arrive as people complete the study. You review them, and approving a response releases the participant's payment.

That last part matters more than it sounds: participants are waiting on you, so reviewing promptly keeps them happy and keeps them coming back.

6. Read the results

Sessions are transcribed and summarised automatically, with themes, quotes and sentiment pulled out.

A good first study

Keep it small. Ten to fifteen responses on a single clear question will teach you more than a sprawling study, and you'll learn how the platform behaves before committing a real budget.

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