FAQ: Surveys – Participant Support Center

What are surveys?
What kind of questions will I answer?
How are surveys different from other tests?
Why do some surveys look different?
Do I need an app or extension?
How much do surveys pay?
Why do some surveys disqualify me after a few questions?
What if a customer asks for my personal information?
What happens if I close the survey window?
I'm having some technical issues with a survey. What should I do?

What are surveys?

Surveys are short questionnaires designed to help customers quickly understand your needs and opinions. You can easily identify them on your test feed, as shown in this image.

A Survey test card from the UserTesting participant test feed. The test offers a $1 reward and is designed for computer use. It is not recorded and is subject to confidentiality terms. A button labeled, Check if you qualify, appears below the details, and a close icon is available in the top right corner to dismiss the test. The layout clearly communicates device type, privacy status, and reward.

What kind of questions will I answer?

Most questions relate to your attitudes and opinions, but you might also answer a few demographic questions (e.g., your age, employment status, etc.).

Here are some types of questions you can expect:

Single choice

You’ll select one response to a question.

A multiple-choice survey question asking how often the respondent shops online, with two radio button options: Once a week or more and Less than once a week. Neither option is selected. The layout is simple and designed for easy selection.

Multiple choice

You’ll have the option to select multiple responses to a question.

A multi-select survey question asking the respondent what payment method they used for online purchases in the last six months. The options include credit card, debit card, PayPal or other digital wallets, Bank transfer, and Cash on delivery. Each option has an empty checkbox to the left, indicating that multiple selections are allowed.

A multi-select survey question asking the respondent what payment method they used for online purchases in the last six months. The options include credit card, debit card, PayPal or other digital wallets, Bank transfer, and Cash on delivery. Each option has an empty checkbox to the left, indicating that multiple selections are allowed.

Written response

You’ll provide a typed response to a question or prompt.

An open-ended survey question asking the respondent what they find difficult about shopping online, followed by a large text box with placeholder text that asks the respondent to type their answer. In the bottom right corner, there is a blue Next button. The layout is clean and designed for participants to type in a free-response answer.

An open-ended survey question asking the respondent what they find difficult about shopping online, followed by a large text box with placeholder text that asks the respondent to type their answer. In the bottom right corner, there is a blue Next button. The layout is clean and designed for participants to type in a free-response answer.

Rating scale

You’ll select your preferred choice from a range of options (e.g., “Please rate your agreement with the following statement: ‘I understand what I can do on this site.’ (1 = Strongly disagree | 5 = Strongly agree)”)

A survey question asking how likely the participant is to shop online again, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. A horizontal row of numbered options from 0 to 10 is displayed. The left end of the scale is labeled Highly unlikely, and the right end is labeled Highly likely. A blue Next button appears in the bottom right corner. The layout allows the participant to select one rating point.

A survey question asking how likely the participant is to shop online again, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. A horizontal row of numbered options from 0 to 10 is displayed. The left end of the scale is labeled Highly unlikely, and the right end is labeled Highly likely. A blue Next button appears in the bottom right corner. The layout allows the participant to select one rating point.

How are surveys different from other tests?

The main difference between surveys and other test types is that you don’t need to think out loud during a survey. Instead of recording your screen and talking into your microphone, you’ll respond to questions by selecting an answer that best matches your opinion or typing out your thoughts.

Why do some surveys look different?

The look and feel of surveys may vary slightly, but you’ll complete them all in the same way.

Best practices

Carefully read all instructions.
Take your time.
Provide detailed responses to written questions unless the test instructions state that it isn’t required to do so.
Share your honest feedback!

Do I need an app or extension?

No app or extension required

Surveys don’t require any downloads. You might have heard of the UserZoom Surveys app or browser extension, but you'll only use these for other test types. They are not required for surveys.

How much do surveys pay?

Since surveys are easier to complete and don’t record your face or voice, they usually have lower payouts compared to other test types.

You’ll receive your payments through your linked PayPal account, just like with any other test. Get answers to all your payment questions

Tip icon.png

Check your test history to follow the payment status for your survey.

Once the customer has reviewed and approved your responses, we’ll send your payment to your connected PayPal account. You can expect your payment to arrive in your PayPal account in 14 days.

Why do some surveys disqualify me after a few questions?

Some customers include screener questions you must answer before you can start the actual survey. Your responses determine if you meet the specific requirements for their study. Although it might feel like you’ve already started the survey, these questions are just part of the qualification process.

What if a customer asks for my personal information?

You’re never required to provide any personal information you’re uncomfortable sharing. To learn more about our security practices and recommendations, please review our Privacy Policy and take some time to understand how to protect your privacy while testing.

What happens if I close the survey window?

If you close the survey window before answering all of the questions, we can’t guarantee that your responses will be saved. To avoid losing your progress and missing out on your payment, please only begin a survey when you have enough time to complete it in one sitting.

I'm having some technical issues with a survey. What should do?

Check your setup

Make sure your device meets our system requirements and that your browser is up to date.

Survey won’t load

Refresh the page, clear your browser cache, or try switching to another supported browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari).

Not responsive on mobile

If the survey isn’t displaying correctly, try rotating your device. If the issue continues, switch to desktop.

Use the Help button

If you run into problems during the survey, click the Help feature built into the survey. This lets us and the customer know right away.