Screener

Why Screeners are Important in User Research

Screeners play a crucial role in user research by ensuring that the right participants are selected for studies. They help researchers:

1. Target specific user demographics
2. Find participants with relevant experiences
3. Ensure diversity in the research sample
4. Save time and resources by pre-qualifying participants

By using well-designed screeners, researchers can gather more accurate and relevant data, leading to more valuable insights for product development and user experience improvements.

How to Create Effective Screeners

Creating an effective screener involves several key steps:

1. Define your target audience clearly
2. Develop questions that accurately identify qualified participants
3. Use a mix of closed-ended and open-ended questions
4. Avoid leading questions that might bias responses
5. Keep the screener concise to prevent participant fatigue
6. Include disqualifying criteria to filter out unsuitable candidates

Remember to test your screener with a small group before using it in your main research to ensure it's working as intended.

Examples of Screener Questions

Here are some examples of screener questions for different types of user research:

• "How often do you use mobile banking apps?" (for a study on financial technology)
• "What is your role in making purchasing decisions for your company?" (for B2B product research)
• "Have you bought any smart home devices in the last 6 months?" (for IoT product development)
• "On a scale of 1-5, how comfortable are you with using new technology?" (for assessing tech-savviness)

These questions help researchers quickly identify whether a potential participant fits the desired profile for their study.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What's the difference between a screener and a survey?: A screener is specifically designed to qualify or disqualify participants for a study, while a survey is used to collect data and insights from participants.

• How long should a screener be?: Ideally, a screener should be short, typically 5-10 questions, to avoid participant fatigue and dropouts.

• Can screeners be used for both qualitative and quantitative research?: Yes, screeners are valuable for both types of research to ensure you're gathering data from the right participants.

• Should screener questions be the same for all studies?: No, screener questions should be tailored to each study's specific requirements and target audience.