Testimonial: Jane got paid to test salads

As expert recruiters of participants for the UX and market research industries, the People for Research team works hard to find a specific mix of people to take part in every type of research and testing session you can image, from technology to food. Maybe that is why Jane, from Bristol, wasn’t surprised when we reached out to her back in 2015 and asked if she would be available to take part in paid research about salads.

Although Jane “had absolutely no idea” what to expect from the session, she was definitely “interested in the subject and thought it would be fun to take part”.

“Organised and relaxed”

Once at the venue and fully ready to take part in the paid research study, she found the whole set up “very professionally organised with so many different packets of salad to comment on”. “It was very relaxed” and nothing proved to be too difficult or awkward, she added.

According to Jane, taking part in this focus group “was a very enjoyable experience” overall, especially “meeting other people and hearing their comments”. And, of course, receiving £60 cash as a thank you was a big plus!

Jane didn’t even have to travel far, since the research took place in central Bristol, where the PfR community member lived at the time. By taking part in this session, she helped to change and improve a product that will reach thousands of British consumers.

The salads and packaging tested by Jane and a few more volunteers back in 2015 is probably now part of many families’ meals up and down the UK. In cases like this one, the value of paid research and testing often goes beyond the monetary incentive; the contributors are, above all, happy to help and glad to realise that their feedback is actually valuable.

So, what is Jane’s advice for people who are still trying to decide if they should sign up and apply to take part in paid research and testing?

“Definitely have a go. It is good fun and you get rewarded for your efforts.”