# Two Year Highlights of the Blog I started this blog in August 2023. After 2 years I’d like to **highlight a few posts**. I hope these will have continuing interest for anyone who missed them; and also may be good introductions for new subscribers (“subscribe” is always free here; click the envelope ✉️+ icon in the upper right!) I sort these articles into categories of: * *Tech Community Reflections* * *Quant Methods* * *Method Critiques* * *Career Advice* * *Distinguished Guests* I’ve added a brief note about each topic as a preview or comment. I hope you find something new and provocative in these articles! --- ## Tech Community Reflections ![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1754855222853/0f14b40b-fb8d-4666-b993-d6e527181333.png align="center") **The End of Tech as a Big Family**: [https://quantuxblog.com/the-end-of-tech-as-a-big-family](https://quantuxblog.com/the-end-of-tech-as-a-big-family). This post reflects on the personal anxieties and changes in Big Tech that were exposed during recent layoffs. **We’re Far from AGI:** [https://quantuxblog.com/were-far-from-agi](https://quantuxblog.com/were-far-from-agi). As a psychologist and sometimes philosopher, I explain why proponents of AGI and “superintelligence” don’t understand what they’re claiming (or more precisely, they don’t understand what they are **not** discussing). --- ## Quant Methods ![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1754669737180/01dfd98c-d94b-40e9-b22a-f8ca15d4e769.jpeg align="center") **Multidimensional Sentiment Analysis**: [Part 1](https://quantuxblog.com/multidimensional-sentiment-analysis-part-1), [Part 2](https://quantuxblog.com/multidimensional-sentiment-analysis-part-2). If I were to sort methods into quadrants on a 2×2 grid, arranging them by powerfulness vs. frequency of usage, then multidimensional sentiment analysis would score as a “high opportunity” — very powerful but surprisingly rarely used. I’d like to change that! **Easy MaxDiff in R**: [https://quantuxblog.com/easy-maxdiff-in-r](https://quantuxblog.com/easy-maxdiff-in-r) . If you’d like to understand MaxDiff from the ground up, this short code explainer may help (note: the code is for *educational* purposes, not production). It looks at the observations that MaxDiff collects, and basic statistics for that data. **Individual Scores in Choice Models, Part 3: Respondent Segments**: [https://quantuxblog.com/individual-scores-in-choice-models-part-3-respondent-segments](https://quantuxblog.com/individual-scores-in-choice-models-part-3-respondent-segments). I examine one way to segment MaxDiff data. But even more, this article is about how *segmentation is usually misunderstood* and what it actually does. **Individual Scores in Choice Models, Part 4: Inspecting Model Fit with RLH**: [https://quantuxblog.com/individual-scores-in-choice-models-part-4-inspecting-model-fit-with-rlh](https://quantuxblog.com/individual-scores-in-choice-models-part-4-inspecting-model-fit-with-rlh). I look at the RLH fit statistic in conjoint analysis and MaxDiff. Using basic math, theory, and code, I show why *common heuristics to interpret RLH are misleading*. RLH is diagnostic but cannot “filter” respondents. --- ## Method Critiques ![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1754669797978/785aa112-c9fe-4909-8c4b-ab9aa1d1a552.jpeg align="center") **Surveys and the “True Score” Mistake**: [https://quantuxblog.com/surveys-and-the-true-score-mistake](https://quantuxblog.com/surveys-and-the-true-score-mistake). This article explains why *surveys are not about finding “the truth”, aka a latent score, in people's heads*. Instead surveys are about listening to people. (This article is also one of the ground for my criticism of synthetic data in the next article.) **Synthetic Survey Data? It’s Not Data**: [https://quantuxblog.com/synthetic-survey-data-its-not-data](https://quantuxblog.com/synthetic-survey-data-its-not-data) This article explains why I believe *the concept of “synthetic data” is impossibly flawed* in multiple ways, including basic logic, statistics, and in regards to the scientific method. **Critical Assessment of the Kano Model**: [Part 1](https://quantuxblog.com/critical-assessment-of-the-kano-model-part-1), [Part 2](https://quantuxblog.com/critical-assessment-of-the-kano-model-part-2). If you are tempted to use the Kano Model to identify “delighter” products … I don’t recommend it. This pair of articles explains why not, and gives alternatives. --- ## Career Advice ![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1754669833462/d33a541e-acd2-410b-931e-aa6a02de7c7d.jpeg align="center") **Skills Combination for Quant UX Applications:** [https://quantuxblog.com/skills-combination-for-quant-ux-applications](https://quantuxblog.com/skills-combination-for-quant-ux-applications). I’ve interviewed hundreds of candidates and, for several years, coordinated the standard Quant UX hiring criteria at Google. This article *summarizes the skills needed to be a Quant UXR*, and is also a good preview of the [Quant UX book](https://quantuxbook.com)! **Recommendations for Quant UX Interview "Portfolio" Presentations**: [https://quantuxblog.com/quant-ux-interview-portfolio-presentations-recommendation](https://quantuxblog.com/quant-ux-interview-portfolio-presentations-recommendation). If you are asked to give a Quant UX research presentation — sometimes confusingly called a “portfolio” presentation — this is how to approach it. The short version: *give a research presentation that interests you*; don’t try to guess some “right” content. --- ## Distinguished Guests! ![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1754669945252/01b1c51e-9ff6-418f-9040-3f5ec6a588b7.jpeg align="center") **How to make HEART metrics work in practice**: [https://quantuxblog.com/how-to-make-heart-metrics-work-in-practice](https://quantuxblog.com/how-to-make-heart-metrics-work-in-practice) One of the founders of the Quant UX discipline, Kerry Rodden examines the evergreen and useful HEART framework, detailing practical advice to apply it. *HEART is my all-time single favorite Quant UX framework*, and a memorable heuristic to draw on in many, many research contexts. **Be a T-shaped Quant UXR: How Doing Qualitative Research Made Me a Better Quantitative UX Researcher**: [https://quantuxblog.com/be-a-t-shaped-quant-uxr-how-doing-qualitative-research-made-me-a-better-quantitative-ux-researcher](https://quantuxblog.com/be-a-t-shaped-quant-uxr-how-doing-qualitative-research-made-me-a-better-quantitative-ux-researcher) Kitty Xu, cofounder of the Quant UX Conference, explains why Quant UXRs should also engage personally with qualitative research. --- ## More Reading? Each article above has pointers to additional articles or references. Or check out: * Hundreds of talks in archives of the [Quant UX Conference](https://quantuxcon.org) … or [**join us in November**](https://events.ringcentral.com/events/quant-ux-con-2025-worldwide) 2025! * With my coauthors: the [Quant UX book](https://www.amazon.com/Quantitative-User-Experience-Research-Understanding/dp/1484292677), the [R book](https://www.amazon.com/Marketing-Research-Analytics-Use/dp/3030143155), and/or the [Python book](https://www.amazon.com/Python-Marketing-Research-Analytics-Schwarz/dp/3030497194) * And I hope you’ll subscribe to this blog, if you haven’t already Happy reading! ![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1755288272665/03aa908f-dd87-4d51-a2c1-0a74113b6bad.png align="center")