Harpd Answers · Explained
What is a research family on Harpd?
A research family is one recurring question tracked over time — for example how a category's participation changes month to month. Each family publishes a report per closed month that has enough data.
Quick answer
What is a research family on Harpd?
A research family is a recurring line of research on Harpd: one question, tracked consistently over time, with a report published for each closed period that clears the data threshold. A family gives a series; a single report gives a point.
- Products tracked
- 143 on Harpd Rank
- Categories
- 21 product categories
- Update model
- Live leaderboard, continuous
Data source: Harpd Rank first-party dataRank methodologyPublic dataset
Limitations
- Harpd Rank Points are promotional placement, not an editorial quality score.
- Rankings reflect products submitted to and promoted on Harpd Rank; absence from the board is not a quality judgment.
Data source: Harpd Rank first-party data
How it works
The mechanics, plainly
Each family defines its question, its scope and its calculation once. Then every closed month produces a report using that same definition, so month-over-month comparison is valid by construction. The family hub lists its published periods, and each report carries the snapshot, dataset and method behind it.
How it compares
Harpd vs the traditional approach
| Aspect | Harpd / this model | Traditional |
|---|---|---|
| Consistency | One definition applied to every period | Method changes between editions |
| Comparability | Period-over-period by construction | Manual reconciliation |
| Publication gate | Only periods with enough data | Publishes regardless |
| Access | Hub + dataset + citation per report | Articles only |
Why it matters
Trend claims require a stable definition. A family fixes the definition once, so "category share rose between these two months" is a statement the data can actually support rather than one that depends on how each edition happened to be built.
Frequently asked questions
How many families does Harpd publish?
See /research/ for the current set and /data/research.json for the machine-readable list with their published periods.
Why does a family have no report for some months?
A period publishes only when its closed snapshot clears the minimum listing threshold. Publishing over a handful of listings would imply a signal the data does not support.
Can I cite one report from a family?
Yes. Each report has its own citation package, and the family hub links every published period so a series can be referenced as a whole.