Is it 'Online Recruitment?'

We think it's a shame that, to some people, the whole concept of 'online research' has developed negative associations, particularly concerning quality.

Online communications have enabled faster, cheaper and more accessible opportunities for research recruitment than at any time in history, and we firmly believe in seizing all that is positive about whatever opportunities present themselves. 

We use the internet to recruit many of the members of our database in the first place, and also to conduct initial screening - there are many advantages to this, not least the complete removal of any potential for interviewer bias (conscious or unconscious) in the way questions are asked.  We use email to send respondent invitations, confirmation details, and pretasks (as well as to communicate with our widely dispersed team internally)

However we ALWAYS conduct a thorough final telephone interview before EVERY respondent is placed in a project.  We are only too aware that people can present themselves online in any way they like - that's part of the virtual world - and we need to make sure you are getting the real deal in your projects.

Saros Research DO NOT post details of our projects and their qualifying criteria on a blog or list, for people to pick and choose what they fancy taking part in.  We are aware of some very poor practice in this area, and know exactly where the negative connotations of 'online recruitment' have come from.  Sure, it would be cheaper and easier to do it that way.  But what possible quality control would there be?