User Interviews

User Interviews Review 

It’s in the name :-) User Interviews is a user testing firm that connects researchers with participants giving their opinion on new product ideas, prototypes, apps and websites. In return for their time contributing to research, participants are rewarded with gift cards and PayPal transfers. Is this an online gig worth your time? Check our review for the pros and cons of signing up with User Interviews. 

What type of UX research can I participate in?

User Interview facilitates many types of UX research (not only user interviews), each designed to gather insights into different aspects of the user experience. Here are some of the most common types of UX research you’ll find on the User Interviews portal:

1. User Interviews: This type of research involves one-on-one interviews with users, aimed at understanding their needs, goals, and behaviours.
2. Usability Testing: Usability testing involves observing users as they interact with a product or prototype. This can help researchers identify usability issues and areas for improvement.
3. Surveys: Surveys can be used to collect quantitative data from a large number of users. They can help researchers understand patterns and trends in user behaviour, preferences, and attitudes.

Moderated vs. Unmoderated UX research

When participating in studies on the User Interviews platform you’ll encounter terms like “unmoderated usability testing”. What does it actually mean? Here is a quick breakdown:

Moderated UX research

Moderated UX research studies involve a researcher who facilitates the study by guiding the participant through the research process, asking questions, and gathering feedback in real time. This type of research often takes place in person, but it can also be conducted remotely through video conferencing software. The researcher can ask follow-up questions, clarify any confusion, and probe further into the participant’s thought process to gain a deeper understanding of their experience.

Moderated studies tend to be better paid than unmoderated studies, but they also take more time and require more involvement from the participant’s side. Moderated studies also need to be scheduled in advance, which might not always be at the most convenient time for the participant.

Unmoderated UX research

In contrast, unmoderated UX research studies involve participants completing tasks and providing feedback independently, often through an online platform. The researcher provides instructions and materials for the study and then steps back, allowing participants to complete the tasks and provide feedback on their own. Unmoderated studies are typically faster and more flexible than moderated studies, which means the pay associated with these studies is also less than moderated ones.

An advantage of these studies in comparison to unmoderated studies is that they don’t need to be scheduled in advance. In this way, participants just need to make sure to complete the project before the deadline runs out.

What type of companies will I be assisting?

User Interviews is working with many different types of companies requiring UX research. Here are some examples:

1. Technology companies: Technology companies that develop digital products, such as software, apps, websites, and devices, often conduct UX research to ensure that their products are user-friendly and meet the needs of their target audience.
2. Design agencies: Design agencies that specialize in creating digital products and services for clients often conduct UX research as part of their design process. This research helps them to understand the needs of their clients’ customers and create products that meet those needs.
3. E-commerce companies: E-commerce companies that sell products online conduct UX research to improve the user experience of their websites and apps. This research helps them to understand how customers interact with their products and how they can improve the buying process.
4. Financial institutions: Banks, credit card companies, and other financial institutions conduct UX research to improve the usability of their websites and apps, as well as to better understand the needs and behaviors of their customers.

Is User Interviews a legit survey site? 

Yes, User Interviews is a legitimate facilitator of online user testing and UX research. In our experience, they pay rewards as promised on time. The majority of reviews on sites like TrustPilot are also positive, with hundreds of users happy with the experience.

How to get started 

We just love the level of transparency on User Interview’s website. Before even deciding on signing up, you can actually check out all their live studies. Wow! You can actually see the description for each project, the length of the study in minutes, the basic requirements and the compensation.  This is so much better than all the survey sites shrouded in mystery, where it’s impossible to work out the compensation level. By looking at the studies, you’ll quickly notice that the compensation varies quite a lot from project to project.

The formats you can choose from include:

• In Person: The study takes place at a physical location.
• Over the Phone: You’ll be answering questions over the phone.
• Online: The interaction happens online.

The study types you can choose from include:

• 1-on-1 interview: Usually takes place over a video conference call or phone.
• Focus group: You’ll be answering questions in a group setting with a moderator.
• Multi-day study: You’ll be contributing to the same study on a regular basis.
• Unmoderated task: You’ll be given a task providing feedback online, not moderated by a person.

If you feel like these are the types of activities you’d enjoy, it’s a simple task to register. Make sure to verify your phone number and connect your LinkedIn or Facebook account to increase your chances of qualifying. After filling out your basic demographic information, head to the “browse studies” section to see which studies you can apply for. These studies are already pre-filtered, but you’ll need to check their descriptions if they are worth applying for.  When you click “Apply” you’ll get a set of screener questions which will determine if you go to the next level to be reviewed by the researcher in charge of the project. After this point, you’ll simply need to wait to see if you’re accepted or not.

What about the survey experience? 

Most research studies will require you to use your laptop or desktop computer. However, you can still use your mobile device to record videos on occasion if it has a good camera or when applying for a research study by simply logging into the member dashboard from your mobile device and selecting the survey which you want to use. This will be the only time accessing the website from a mobile device will be helpful because most paid research studies limit how many people can take part and are always first come, first-come-first-served.

After verifying your phone number, the System will show you a series of forms about your professional, demographic, and technical information. Provide all necessary information completely and truthfully for the best results. Within 24 hours, the average participant qualifies for their first study.

How much can you make with User Interviews? 

The amount you can make on User Interviews varies a great deal from study to study. Online surveys are paid the least, while moderated 1:1 sessions are usually paid the most. Also, the payment varies depending on how hard it is to reach the target group. As an example, if the researcher is only looking for CTOs (Chief Technology Officers), the compensation is likely to be many times higher than for a study requiring anyone working in IT. 

Here are some examples of compensation levels:

• Beauty products – 1:1 interview – 30 minutes – $30
• Website improvement – Unmoderated task – 40 minutes – $40
• HR and CTO leaders – 1:1 interview – 30 minutes – $300
• Test of new tool for marketing – Unmoderated task – 10 minutes – $15
• Mobile gamer – 1:1 interview – 60 minutes – $80
• Supply chain management – Unmoderated task – 15 minutes – $20

As you can see from the above examples, many of the studies are awarded $1 per minute. For target groups that are more difficult to reach such as C-level leaders, the compensation can be significantly higher.

After completing the study, you will be paid at once, and there is no threshold amount. You will be paid via PayPal, Amazon gift card, Visa gift card, or other digital gift cards. However, these vary from study to study. If a study pays you in cash via PayPal or direct bank transfer, the researcher will pay you, not User Interviews. In the case of gift cards, the site will distribute the rewards. Payment by direct bank transfer takes up to 10 business days to be credited, while you will receive the gift cards within one to two days.

What can prevent me from cashing out? 

Practice honesty at all times. Conflicting responses and poor feedback will result in penalties on your account. Too many poor responses and your account may be blocked from taking part in future studies. Keep in mind that you’ll be rated for each project you participate in, so remain in good standing with User Interviews, and you’ll likely get invited back for future ones.