If you’ve ever had a research project derailed by a last-minute dropout or spent hours trying to make sense of vague screener answers, you’ll know just how important participant recruitment is to getting good results. And yet, it’s still one of the most common areas where things go wrong.
From unclear communication to non-compliant processes, poor recruitment can put your entire project at risk, not to mention your time, budget, and reputation.
That’s why in this blog, we’re highlighting some of the biggest recruitment pitfalls we see in the industry, along with practical advice to help you avoid them and choose a recruitment partner you can trust.
Whether you’re a seasoned researcher juggling multiple projects or a project manager trying to keep everything on track on your latest market research project, this one’s for you.
1. Unqualified or Inauthentic Participants
You’ve done the prep, you’ve written the guide, you’re ready to go but if your participants aren’t right, it doesn’t matter how good the rest of the project is.
Participants who aren’t properly screened can lead to unreliable results and shallow insights and sadly, it’s more common than you might think.
What to do: Ask your recruitment supplier how they screen and validate participants. Do they use a multi-stage process? Are they re-screened before the session? What happens if someone doesn’t quite fit?
Want to learn more? Good participants start with a good screener – take a look at our tips for writing screeners that really work.
2. Lack of Transparency
Clear communication is key to a successful recruitment process and when it’s missing, things can go south pretty quickly.
Fieldwork agencies who don’t provide regular updates, miss important details, or leave you chasing information are more than just frustrating, they are a risk to your project.
What to do: Look for a supplier who insists on a proper briefing call before they get started, keeps you updated along the way, and is always honest about timelines or challenges.
This is something we covered in our post on common recruitment mistakes and trust us, transparency is one of the first things to look for.
3. Compliance and Ethics Cut Corners
When it comes to compliance and ethics, there’s no room for grey areas. From GDPR to participant care, your supplier needs to take responsibility for doing things the right way.
Sadly, not every agency does, and the consequences can be serious.
What to do: Check that your recruitment partner is GDPR compliant and ask about things like RAS accreditation and Cyber Essentials. At Angelfish, we’re fully accredited and are always working to strengthen our compliance even further.
The RAS accreditation ensures suppliers meet the Market Research Society’s strict quality standards for ethical, reliable participant recruitment – it’s a mark of trust and professionalism.
4. Dropouts and No-Shows
Even with the best-laid plans, last-minute dropouts happen but some fieldwork agencies are better equipped to deal with them than others.
Without a strong re-screening and engagement strategy in place, you might find yourself scrambling to fill gaps at the eleventh hour.
What to do: Ask your supplier how they keep participants engaged. Are they proactive with updates? Do they check in before the session? And do they have backups ready just in case?
Your Supplier Checklist: What to Look For
Choosing a recruitment partner doesn’t have to be a gamble. Here’s a quick checklist to help you make the right call:
- Are they RAS accredited?
- Do they have a strong track record of recruiting high-quality participants?
- What does their screening and validation process look like?
- Are they GDPR compliant and aligned with ethical standards?
- How do they manage participant engagement and dropouts?
- Can they provide recent case studies or testimonials?
Why Work with Angelfish Fieldwork?
We’ve been recruiting participants for qualitative and UX research for over a decade, and we know just how important it is to get things right from the very first brief to the final report.
Here’s what makes working with us different:
✔️ We’re RAS accredited and GDPR compliant
✔️ We use robust multi-stage screening and validation
✔️ We’re experts in both qual and UX participant recruitment
✔️ We communicate clearly, from start to finish
✔️ We partner with leading agencies and brands across sectors
Want to learn more about how we do things? Explore our Research Participant Recruitment hub.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, market research is only as good as the people who take part in it, which means that getting your recruitment right is absolutely essential.
By avoiding these common pitfalls in market research recruitment and asking the right questions, you’ll give your project the best possible chance of success and save yourself a lot of stress along the way.
If you’re looking for a supplier you can trust to get it right, we’d love to chat.
Get in touch with our team today.
Want a handy checklist to guide your next project?
Pop your details in below to download our free recruitment checklist and steer clear of common market research pitfalls – instantly.
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