How to take part in remote research
Many of our paid research studies take place online, meaning you can take part remotely in a huge range of sessions. In this guide, we’ll take you through some of the most commonly asked questions related to taking part in remote research.
Where can I take part?
The best part about remote research is it’s super flexible and you can take part from (almost) anywhere. There’s just a few essentials you’ll need:
• Private and quiet space – ideally a separate room away from any distractions or noise.
• Reliable and fast internet – we may ask you to conduct or walk you through a tech check before taking part to make sure your internet strength is suitable.
• Location must be as per the opportunity – you can take part from anywhere, as long as the location you’re in matches the one specified on the opportunity. For example, some opportunities may be for particular countries, while others may be for those based anywhere in the UK, or for those living in a specific city only.
What device do I need to take part in remote research?
To take part in remote research you will need one of the following:
• Smartphone (iOS or Android)
• Tablet
• Desktop
• Laptop
If possible, we recommend you use a laptop or desktop computer when taking part in a remote session, unless you are taking part in remote research requiring a smartphone. Some sessions will require a specific device, but this information will have been provided at the point of application and our team will remind you about this ahead of your session.
How will the remote session take place?
Our clients use a range of online communication platforms that participants can connect to via video or audio. The most popular platforms we use are:
• Zoom – click here for Zoom user guide
• Microsoft Teams – click here for Teams user guide
• Google Meet – click here for Google Meet user guide
Our team will let you know which platform you will be using ahead of your session. Haven’t used these platforms before? Don’t worry, our user guides will help you prepare.
How do I complete a PFR tech check?
Before taking part in a remote session, we recommend you log on to your session at least 10 minutes before it starts.
This is so you can complete a quick and easy tech check to make sure your session runs smoothly. This check is composed of three steps:
1. Technology check
2. Platform check
3. Internet check
✔️ Technology check
Depending on the type of research you are taking part in, we recommend the following:
• Check your webcam is on and working
• Check the sound quality of your device and that you can hear everything clearly
• Check your microphone is working
On most platforms such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams, you can complete this check within the app before your session starts.
✔️ Platform check
We recommend checking that you are using the most up-to-date version of the platform used in the session. For example, any updates for the Zoom app will need to be completed before the session starts.
✔️ Internet check
Make sure your device is connected to a strong Wi-Fi connection (or a strong mobile data connection if you are joining on your phone) and check you are able to access the internet ahead of your session.
If you run into any problems during your PFR tech check, please get in touch with a team member so they can help you.
What will I be doing in the remote research?
This depends on the type of research our client is running and our team will ensure you have all the necessary information ahead of time. We find participants for a wide range of studies, including:
• Surveys and remote online tasks
• Website or app testing sessions
• Diary studies
• Think-aloud tasks
• Product testing with follow-up interviews
To find out more about the different types of research you can get involved in, please click here.
How do I screen share in a remote session?
Depending on the type of research session, you may be testing a website, app or prototype on your device. In this instance, the researcher will ask you to ‘share your screen’ so they can see you testing it during the session.
Please note: before the research session begins, make sure there is no sensitive information visible on your device.
The process of sharing your screen differs depending on the platform you are using. Usually, you will select the ‘Share Screen’ button within the platform and then select the application or window you would like to display to the researcher (e.g. your web browser such as Google Chrome if you are testing a website).
The full process on how to share your screen for a specific platform (e.g. Zooms or Microsoft Teams) can be found in our user guide sections for each platform:
• Zoom – click here for Zoom user guide
• Microsoft Teams – click here for Teams user guide
• Google Meet – click here for Google Meet user guide
