5 Steps to Avoid Recruiting Professional Respondents
The issue of dealing with cheaters is not a new one, and firms that are willing to confront the problem head on are better equipped to deliver qualitative data in its most unadulterated form. Qualitative research uses small, undiluted focus groups to determine the behaviors, attitudes and motivations of a core demographic. Unfortunately, "professional respondents" often join focus groups by adapting their demographic information to suit surveys. A high-quality qualitative research firm makes sure to weed out those "cheaters!"
1. Maintaining Accurate, Up-to-Date Databases
One of the most efficient ways to keep focus groups pure is maintaining pristine databases. By focusing on the quality of respondents rather than the quantity, recruiters can meet the challenge of building a high value focus group. Careful selection of individual respondents will prevent focus groups from becoming muddied.
2. Identify Cheaters and Repeat Offenders
Existing databases need to be continually maintained and kept free from identity fraud.
3. Validate Prior to Participation
Identity verification and background checks prevent professional respondents with false information from creeping into a database. Substantiating all personal information with birth dates, addresses, phone numbers and through online resources such as search engines, social media sites and email corroboration systems. Participants can also be required to provide proof in the form of receipts of products to prove their suitability for the research being conducted.
4. Identity Verification
Standard permission waivers signed by applicants allow recruiters to perform more thorough background checks. ID verification confirms residential addresses and birth dates.
5. Rescreen Prior to Research
Pre-interviews conducted by telephone are potent weapons against repeaters. Bottom-feeders can be avoided by using reputable qualitative research firms that don't attract cheaters. Group Dynamics rescreens all respondents prior to their research studies. Verification of identities forms a sturdy foundation for trustworthiness of quality respondents—making certain that each respondent is qualified and validated.