1

Research Quality & Rigor

Appropriateness of research methods, soundness of analysis, and reliability of conclusions.

Exceeds

Research method selection is always fit-for-purpose. Analysis is rigorous and findings are nuanced.

Meets

Research methods are appropriate for standard questions. Analysis is solid.

Below

Method selection is sometimes mismatched. Findings are stated more confidently than the data supports.

Example review phrases

  • "Was the first person to question whether we needed attitudinal vs. behavioral research on the checkout problem—and was right. Saved 3 weeks."
2

Influence on Product Decisions

How often and how significantly research findings change product decisions.

Exceeds

Research directly changes major product decisions. PM and Design teams cite research findings in roadmap rationale.

Meets

Research informs design decisions. Findings are referenced in project documentation.

Below

Research is conducted but findings don't visibly change decisions.

Example review phrases

  • "The concept testing study they ran killed a feature the team had been building for 2 weeks—saved months of engineering time."
3

Research Evangelism

Ability to build research culture and self-serve research capability across the product team.

Exceeds

PMs and designers conduct their own lightweight research using frameworks they built. Research culture is embedded in the team.

Meets

Shares findings broadly. Teaches basic research methods to PMs and designers who are interested.

Below

Research stays in silos. Findings are shared in docs that aren't read.

Example review phrases

  • "Four PMs now run their own discovery interviews using the framework they built—research capacity doubled without headcount."
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Where do these examples come from in real reviews?

Most managers write performance reviews from memory—limited to what they personally observed. Confirm surfaces behavioral evidence from across the organization: who relied on this person, what they drove, how their impact extended beyond their direct manager's line of sight. Reviews written with Confirm's data are more accurate, more defensible, and faster to write.

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