Paid Market Research - Focus Groups

What are paid focus groups?

One way which we conduct research is through paid focus groups. These are small, group discussions (typically between 6 – 12 people) guided by one of our researchers. You’ll take part either in person, or online, and will be invited to talk in a group about a certain product, service, or subject.

Often the researcher will be interested in your previous experiences, but sometimes you’ll be asked to tell us what you think about something new.

There are opportunities to take part in paid focus groups with Research Helper projects across the UK. You don't need any special equipment or qualifications to take part, and we welcome people from anywhere to be part of our UK-wide market research community.

What to expect on the day?

If you’re attending the focus group research in person, you’ll be greeted by the team member who has helped you throughout the application process for this project. If the focus group is held online, it will typically be via a video call (for example using Teams or Zoom).

You’ll then meet your fellow participants and the researcher who will lead the session. They will talk you through the process and explain what you can expect during the research. Typically, a focus group session will last 60 minutes.

Focus groups are a great way of meeting new people with similar interests to you. You’ll have the chance to take part in a lively discussion and give us your thoughts and expertise. Plus, it’s a great way to contribute to improving a product or service.

Once you have successfully completed your focus group session, you will receive payment of your agreed incentive within 14 days, usually as a bank transfer.

Paid focus groups are judgement-free sessions. We’re interested in what you think and want to hear your experiences of the product, service or subject. Your honesty and candid opinions are key. The suggestions, ideas and themes explored in a focus group give us the focus areas of improvement we can then recommend to our client.

Want to take part in paid research?

Sign up to become a Research Helper and we’ll send you information about upcoming paid research projects. You can also apply to take part in one of our current research projects.

Want to find out more? We offer a range of research methods to help organisations understand how to improve their services. Other examples of research which you can take part in are usability research, telephone interviews and online surveys.