Compensate Participants - I

It is customary to compensate those who serve as participants, although^ need not always be monetary- compensation. Participants acquired off the street" or via an agency for a study where your company has been kep anonymous should all receive monetary compensation and possibly a small token of appreciation such as a pen or a T-shirt. Expect to pay the going rate on the open market for the skill level you are requesting. If your product will be used by administrative personnel, expect to compensate them by paying

the hourly rate for administrative assistants. If you will be testing lawyers or doctors or other professionals, you may need to pay close to the hourly rate for that profession. If you will simply be testing with typical "consumers," with no specific profession required, expect to pay an honorarium of about $50 per hour, depending on location (participants on the coasts or in large cities may be more expensive than people in smaller cities or rural places in the middle of the country). Participants are always happy to accept cash; checks or gift checks will also do, but try to make sure participants get the check at the end of the session rather than by mail later. You may need to test in the evening or on weekends if your user profile indicates end users who are not available during the regular work day. If money is no object, however, you can get

people to come in wheneYour company may require participants to sign receipts showing that they

have receiv ed a check or cash in exchange for their participation. Check with your accounting and/or legal department to determine what your company requires.

Participants sent from one of your company's large clients, however, should be compensated differently depending on the relationship of your two companies. If their participation is part of an ongoing research relationship where thev benefit from being privy to your company's future product line as much as vou benefit from their input, then a token gift alone might suffice.