97 Things Every UX Practitioner Should Know

Chapter 88. The Right Screener Sets Up Your Recruit and Research for Success

Katelyn Thompson

A screener is a set of questions used to select participants for a research activity. Good research starts with talking to the “right” audience, and it’s important to craft a precise screener to find the best participants.

Define and Outline Your Criteria

Start by defining and then prioritizing the demographics and behaviors you want for participants based on your research goals. Are you looking to talk to Android users? People who travel internationally? Prioritizing your criteria will help if you need to make compromises once recruiting begins. Use specific measures instead of vague terms that could be interpreted differently by respondents.

Next, consider the situation for your research and what you’ll be asking of your participants. Do they need to be willing to share their location with the app? Use open-ended questions to gauge a respondent’s ability to articulate their thoughts, which is essential for interviews. Finally, determine any quotas or mixes of criteria you want. Do you want half of your respondents to be current customers? Do you want a mix of ages or locations?

Now you have an outline for your screening criteria ready for review by your team:

• Uses an Android phone (must have)

• Traveled internationally within past six months

• App use

  • 50% use our app at least once a ...