Frequently Asked Questions

How does it work?
Get paid for your feedback for a product or service. Focus groups usually consist of 6-8 participants and a moderator leads the group discussion.  Compensation depends on the amount of time the study takes and the content.  Sometimes we ask you to participate in a one on one interviews or usability studies with a researcher.  Or at times, studies are conducted in your home or at a local place of business.  We will never attempt to sell you anything and we will always keep any information you provide us secure and confidential.  Usually we send out a pre-qualifying survey to see who meets the minimum criteria. Then we call you to complete the screening. 

How do I get paid?
After successfully completing your focus group, you will be paid by the facility that is hosting the focus group.  Either by cash, Visa gift card or PayPal

It seems I never get selected!
Totally understand your frustration. Here’s some background info that should help clarify the selection process a bit.

All focus group studies have a very specific set of criteria that respondents need to meet before they can qualify.

For example; One focus group may be looking for married women between 30-35 with kids, and an annual household income of $75k+ and they purchase a very specific brand of hand soap. Another focus group might be looking for single men between 20-25 that have traveled by plane in the last 2 months and have eaten at the airport. Some focus group criteria can get super specific!

So even if you meet most, but not all criteria you may still not qualify. It’s kind of like applying for jobs. You may apply for 20 jobs and still not get an interview, let alone a job! Same thing goes for focus groups.

On a positive note; keep in mind there are hundreds of people that are selected to be and participate in a focus group every day. So take courage, it’s just a matter of time.  I always say: It’s like playing the lottery, you can’t win if you don’t buy a ticket” so keep trying.

How do I know if I’ve been selected for a study?
If you have been selected to participate in a focus group you will be contacted by phone and/or email. Unfortunately, we are not able to contact everyone who is not selected.

Can I bring my kids to a focus group?
Usually it is not OK to bring kids but check with the recruiter if you have questions.

Will I get paid for filling out the Survey Monkey Survey?
*Please note that you will not be compensated for responding to a pre-qualifying questionnaire; you will only be compensated if you are invited and complete the focus group.  Sometimes there is an exception to this, and it will be clearly stated in the survey.

I already filled out a Survey , but got a reminder to fill out the survey?
Sorry for the second email.  You may have filled out the friend link rather than hitting the red button and we have no way to track those responses. 

How do I get started?
To get started, register in our database at 
https://lonestarmarketresearch.com/participate/  
This will add you to our email list and we can email you when we have opportunities for you.  You may also follow us on Facebook and Twitter to stay informed of the newest studies.

How do I unsubscribe from your emails?
Look towards the bottom of the Survey Monkey email and there is an OPT out button. This will unsubscribe you from receiving Survey Monkey Surveys.  Alternatively, if you do not want to receive any emails from us, follow this link to unsubscribe.

Why do you have age restrictions on focus groups?
The demographic criteria vary per focus group, and these are determined by the companies that initiate the focus group (companies like Visa, Dell, AT&T etc.). We don’t have any control over this unfortunately.

How do I update my email, phone number or demographic info?
You can update your database info or contact info by contacting us here. 

I don’t see my question listed?
Click here to contact us with your question.