Course Curriculum

5 Sections
00

Making the Case for Participant Screening

3 Lessons 16 min
  • Course Overview & Downloads 3 min
  • Screening vs. Recruiting 6 min
  • The Cost of Not Screening Effectively 7 min

Resources Provided

  • 0.1_CheatSheet_Screening-Research-Participants (PDF)
01

Targeting the Right Participants

8 Lessons 75 min
  • Demographic Segmentation 5 min
  • Geographic & Psychographic Segmentation 7 min
  • Behavioral Segmentation 5 min
  • Segmentation Best Practices 4 min
  • Define Your Selection Criteria 9 min
  • Watch Me Define Selection Criteria for a Real Study 7 min
  • Watch Me Create a Recruitment Matrix for a Real Study 4 min
  • Convenience Samples: What to Consider 5 min

Practice Activities

  • Define Selection Criteria for a Study (Instructions) 18 min
  • Define Selection Criteria for a Study (Walkthrough) 11 min

Resources Provided

  • 1.5_Template_Identify-Your-Target-Users (Google Docs)
  • 1.5_Template_Identify-Your-Target-Users (Microsoft Word)
  • 1.5_Template_Selection-Criteria-&-Recruitment-Matrix (Google Docs)
  • 1.5_Template_Selection-Criteria-&-Recruitment-Matrix (Microsoft Word)
  • 1.7_Template_Recruitment-Matrix (Google Sheets)
  • 1.7_Template_Recruitment-Matrix (Microsoft Excel)
02

Creating a Screening Plan

5 Lessons 52 min
  • Screening Plans: Quick Overview 3 min
  • Screener Methods: Surveys vs. In-Person vs. Calls 8 min
  • Screening Approaches: Automated vs. Manual Screening 6 min
  • Screening Approaches: Double Screening 5 min
  • Screening Tool Considerations 8 min

Practice Activities

  • Create a Screening Plan for a Diary Study (Instructions) 18 min
  • Create a Screening Plan for a Diary Study (Walkthrough) 4 min

Resources Provided

  • 2.1_Template_User-Research-Plan (Google Docs)
  • 2.1_Template_User-Research-Plan (Microsoft Word)
  • 2.2_Report_How-To-Recruit-Participants-for-Usability-Studies (PDF)
03

Crafting an Effective Screener Survey

10 Lessons 86 min
  • What Makes a “Good” Screener Survey? 6 min
  • How to Structure Your Screener Survey 8 min
  • Watch Me Use Selection Criteria to Outline a Screener Survey 3 min
  • Open-Ended vs. Closed Questions 7 min
  • Write Good Survey Questions 6 min
  • Help Candidates Respond to Your Questions 7 min
  • Prevent Biased Answers & “Gaming” the Survey 10 min
  • Setting Up Survey Logic 4 min
  • Can You Stop Cheaters & Professional Testers? 6 min
  • Plan for a Pilot Survey 5 min

Practice Activities

  • Write 3 Screener Questions (Instructions) 17 min
  • Write 3 Screener Questions (Walkthrough) 7 min
04

Evaluating, Analyzing, and Storing Screener Survey Data

5 Lessons 57 min
  • You’ve Launched Your Screener! Now What? 5 min
  • Watch Me Prepare Screener Data for Analysis 9 min
  • Watch Me Choose Study Participants from Screener Responses 8 min
  • Making the Most of Your Data, Participants, and Screeners 8 min
  • Conclusion 3 min

Practice Activities

  • Select Research Participants for a Study (Instructions) 17 min
  • Select Research Participants for a Study (Walkthrough) 7 min

Resources Provided

  • 4.2_Example_Screener-Response-Data (Google Sheets)
  • 4.2_Example_Screener-Response-Data (Microsoft Excel)

Learning Outcomes

  • Define selection criteria that reflect your target audience
  • Design an effective screener survey that participants actually complete
  • Reduce bias in the screening process
  • Evaluate & analyze screener survey data

Course Preview

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Tools Used in This Course

To complete activities in this course, you will need access to a spreadsheet tool (Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel) and a word processor (Google Docs or Microsoft Word).

All other resources can be accessed through a standard PDF reader.

Turn Problems Into Solutions

Identify the traits of an ideal participant

  • Recognize the traits of misrecruits and avoid their negative cost
  • Prioritize the demographic, geographic, psychological, and behavioral data that best fit your study
  • Use selection criteria to thoughtfully guide recruiting goals and reduce bias

Design screener surveys that effectively find good candidates

  • Create detailed screening plans that set your screener up for success
  • Understand best practices for ordering and structuring screener surveys
  • Write easy-to-answer screener questions that filter out unsuitable participants

Analyze screener data to confidently select participants

  • Identify problems with your screener and catch misrecruits early
  • Make your candidate review effective and efficient
  • Recognize the pros and cons of reusing screener surveys and response data

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will I have access to this course?
Once purchased, your access will never expire. This ensures you can learn at your own pace and return to review content as often as you'd like, whenever you need.
Will I get personalized instructor feedback on course activities?
No, personalized feedback is not provided for activities completed during the course. Most courses provide answer keys to activities that help learners reflect on their progress and understanding of course materials and examples.
What content can I download?
You can download a variety of resources provided with each course, including templates, how-to guides, cheat sheets, posters, reading lists, and more. Video lessons provided in all courses will not be available for download.
Can I access this course offline or on a mobile device?
Offline access isn't available yet, although we plan to add it. Most courses offer downloadable resources for offline reference.

For the best experience, mobile devices are not recommended.
Is this course eligible for the NNGroup UX Certification Program?
Unfortunately, self-paced courses do not count toward UX Certification. However, learners who complete the final exam will receive a “Recognition of Completion” to demonstrate their achievement.

See our Live Online courses for options that count toward UX Certification.
What can I share with my employer to show I’ve completed the training?
Upon completing a course’s final assessment, you will receive a “Recognition of Completion” showcasing your dedication to learning the topic. This document can be shared with your employer or professional network to demonstrate your new skills and commitment to professional development.