If you are new to the world of paid research, we understand the process can be a bit confusing and overwhelming, but don't worry – we are here to help and answer any questions you may have.

Our process will vary slightly depending on the type of paid research you have applied to take part in:

Moderated research: this requires you to be booked in on a specific date and time to speak to a researcher, who will be moderating the session. It could also include focus groups, physical product testing with a team of researchers, or even interviews happening in your own home or workplace.

Unmoderated research: this type of paid study does not typically require you to do it at a specific time, and therefore you don’t need to be booked in. As the name states, this usually includes self-guided online tasks, surveys or diary studies with a deadline to complete.

Once you have signed up to join our community of participants (and as long as you don't unsubscribe from our communications), you will receive regular emails and/or texts inviting you to apply to our projects so we can determine your suitability or to complete surveys that don't require pre-selection.

All our research studies include some kind of monetary or voucher incentive: all studies that require an application process and pre-selection (all the moderated research and some of our unmoderated tasks) offer an individual incentive based the time required to complete the research and its complexity, and all surveys that don't require pre-selection run on the basis of prize draws. You can opt-out of these surveys if you are not interested in prize draws, by the way! Simply go to the Preferences area in your profile and change this setting.

So, you are signed up and we have invited you to apply to one of our studies. This is what happens.

Moderated research

You submit your application to one of our paid research studies.
We review the responses and get in touch with those that look suitable. We try to prioritise people that have never taken part in one of our projects or that have not taken part in the last few months.
1. If selected, you will need to answer more detailed questions over the phone.
2. Unfortunately, due to the volume of responses, we cannot personally reply to everyone. If you have not heard from us by the first date of testing, it's safe to assume that, on this occasion, you have not been chosen to take part.
3. Please keep applying as there will be a piece of market research or usability testing for you in the future!
We ask our client running the research to confirm they are happy with our selection of participants.
We then communicate to the participants who are suitable that they have been selected and provide them with all the necessary information, including a link that allows the participants to select their preferred method of payment and, if that's the case, safely share their bank details.
We also send the participants a reminder email the day before the session and call them on the day to make sure their availability hasn't changed.

Unmoderated research

We review the responses and email the participants that seem suitable, asking them to complete a task before a specific deadline.
1. The research could be as simple as a survey or a bit more complex, like a multi-step task.
2. Just like with moderated research, it's impossible for us to go back to everyone that applies due to the volume of responses.
We will usually provide you with a PFR ID that you can use to complete the task, which means your personal data is kept private and the client can't identify you or keep your information.
The email invite will also include a link that allows the participants to select their preferred method of payment and, if that's the case, safely share their bank details.
Make sure to complete the task by the deadline provided, following instructions carefully and using your PFR ID, if required.
Once you’re done, fill in the payment form. We will wait for confirmation from the client that you have successfully completed the task before approving the incentive.

After the participant successfully attends the session or completes the task, we aim to pay their incentive within three working days.

Find out more about People for Research.