Title: enrolling 2

Offer the right incentive.

Be creative on what you offer and ask your audience what they like. Pulse particpants received checks, while The Girl Power Project particpants received bracelets and gift cards from Starbucks and Amazon at different survey waves. When sending incentives, consider the mailing, processing, and labor costs. While checks may be highly desirable, electronic gift cards are cheaper and easier to send and track.

Reduce number of clicks or swipes.

People can get tired of scrolling, clicking, and swiping if they do not know how much longer they need to go before the end of a screener survey, consent, or enrollment form. Keep questions and forms short, when possible show all questions on one page, use progression bars, or breadcrumbs, to help the participant gauge their progress.

Ensure seamless transition between systems.

When collecting data online, multiple software platforms are often used (e.g., a WordPress website and an online survey platform). These types of transitions may require the participant to switch apps or even change their browser or phone settings–actions that may seem insignificant, but will actually deter some participants from moving forward. Use systems that minimize participant burden and provide a seamless, graphically unified user experience.