# Synthetic research software for concept and audience testing

## The problem

Teams often need to clarify a concept, audience or questionnaire before committing to fieldwork. Synthetic exploration can help surface hypotheses and gaps, but it cannot establish what real people think or do.

Explore concepts or audiences with explicit synthetic personas, then choose what to validate with real participants. Use simulated responses to shape research questions; they are not evidence from people.

## Relevant capabilities

- Persona Research methods: audience discovery, market research, concept testing, preference analysis and website evaluation
- Panel modes for explicit personas, saved cohorts or audience discovery
- Question formats include single choice, multiple choice, rating and open text

## How to compare

- What decision or question should the synthetic exploration help frame?
- Which audience and source material should shape the personas?
- How will researchers distinguish simulated hypotheses from evidence collected from people?

## Bring these inputs

- A focused decision question and the concept, website or research material to examine
- An audience description and any relevant source evidence
- A plan for which hypotheses need to be checked with real participants

## A practical first workflow

- Choose audience discovery, market research, concept testing, preference analysis or website evaluation to match the question.
- Set the persona panel, questions and review criteria before generating responses.
- Review patterns as simulated hypotheses, revise the research plan, then use real participants when the decision needs observed human evidence.

## Check before expanding

- Check whether the selected audience and persona assumptions fit the decision.
- Inspect output for unsupported specifics, uniform answers and missing viewpoints.
- Keep synthetic output labelled as simulation and separate from participant evidence.

## Proof to inspect

See the inspectable concept-test sample report and [audience-discovery sample report](/answers/how-to-find-the-right-audience-for-a-product). They show simulated outputs and their limits; they are not customer case studies.

## Economics
Persona Research exposes a current maximum of 25 personas, five runs per persona and 50 total persona simulations. These are tool limits, not a free allowance or a promised account entitlement. Confirm any study charges and access before running a study.

## Limitations
Simulated responses are not real participant data, not representative population estimates and not forecasts. Output may be biased, overly agreeable or wrong; use real research when a decision depends on what real people think or do.

## Before switching

Synthetic personas can help prepare questions and hypotheses. They do not replace recruitment, representative samples, behavioral observation or human validation.

## Frequently asked questions

### Can synthetic research replace a survey or interview?

No. It can help explore hypotheses and improve a research plan. Use real participants when you need evidence of what people actually think or do.

### Which synthetic research methods are available?

Current Persona Research options include audience discovery, market research, concept testing, preference analysis and website evaluation.

### Are the persona limits a free-study allowance?

No. The current tool limits are 25 personas, five runs per persona and 50 total persona simulations. They do not establish free account entitlement or study cost.

## Get started

### Start with a clear research plan

Download a free planning checklist, then get started with PulseLake when you are ready. The checklist does not include a free study.

[Get started with PulseLake](https://www.pulselake.co/get-started?intent=synthetic-research&offer_id=starter-checklist-v1&utm_source=pulselake&utm_medium=owned&utm_campaign=signup-journey&utm_content=landing_hero) · [Download your free checklist](/solutions/synthetic-research.txt)

The checklist is free and needs no account. Study software, participant costs and any agreed services are separate.

We make PulseLake. If a method or limit has changed, contact hello@pulselake.co so we can correct this page.

## Sources
- https://www.pulselake.co/answers/how-to-find-the-right-audience-for-a-product
- https://www.pulselake.co/answers/how-accurate-are-synthetic-respondents
- https://www.pulselake.co/terms

[Get started with PulseLake](https://www.pulselake.co/get-started)