The User Research Round-Up: CW 13

Secondary research, testing content (a la banana testing), roadmapping researchops, empowering PwDRs, your career as a start-up

Hello curious human!

Spring is trying so hard to Spring here in Jersey. We’ve had a few nice days sprinkled in but I am certainly longing for real warm weather that lasts more than a few hours…maybe in a few weeks.

You know what else I’m longing for? For you to take this survey! I’m trying to understand what kind of tools user researchers use in their “stack” or if there even is a stack at all. The reason I’m doing this is to see how I can help with improvements in the UXR tool space (not by creating a new tool, but just through information) and if there is any way we can make tooling easier for UXRs. I’ll be creating a report based on this information to share publicly as soon as I get enough responses. So please share around!

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Tools to use:

Breyta.ai

What if the biggest risk to your research practice isn’t bad methods but forgetfulness? I’m serious. The toughest part of being a researcher isn’t always the work itself. but realizing that no one (sometimes not even you) remembers what you found six months ago. You end up repeating studies, answering the same questions, or defending insights you know exist somewhere…but can’t find. It’s a slow erosion of your influence. And it’s avoidable.

Breyta saved me from reinventing the wheel more times than I can count. I used to waste so much time trying to figure out what we already knew, what we missed, and where we should go next. Breyta helps me track themes across projects, so I’m not just reacting, I’m building. I can see gaps, connect dots, and spot the “we already knew this” moments before I start planning. It’s how I make sure every project has momentum instead of feeling like a standalone effort. If your research feels like a string of one-offs instead of a compounding body of knowledge, you need this tool. Sign up for a free trial!

Condens

Condens has become my go-to for bringing stakeholders into the research in a way that actually sticks. I used to send decks or docs that barely got read and now I can just share a link, and people can explore findings on their own terms. It’s fast, visual, and doesn’t overwhelm them with detail they don’t need. When someone asks, “What did users say about onboarding again?” I can show them exactly where it lives, tagged, quoted, and connected to other studies. It’s made conversations faster, decisions easier, and my insights way more visible. If you want your research to actually drive action, not just live in a file, Condens is a game-changer. This includes secondary research. I’ve actually compiled a secondary research magazine in Condens for a client and it’s completely changed how we start research projects, and the quality of research requests I receive (not to mention, it helps me triangulate data better!). Sign up for a free 30-day trial!

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Link roundup

01.

Your ultimate list for secondary research resources (Resources) by Me!

Okay yes, I made this, but it’s actually something I reference constantly. This is a living list of tools, libraries, and databases, I’ve pulled together to make secondary research way less of a pain and way more strategic. Whether you’re starting a project and need to get the lay of the land, or you’re trying to back up your insights with solid context, this resource saves you from going down a hundred rabbit holes. I made it because I couldn’t find anything like it all in one place, so now you don’t have to either.

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02.