If VetMEDResearch is your first experience being part of a research panel, you may be wondering what to expect. I have attempted to answer questions you may have. But if you still have questions, feel free to email me at [email protected] and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

What is a research panel?

You can think of a research as a database of experts who sign up to answer questions. It’s a resource for companies—in this case, pharmaceutical, nutrition, and service companies working in animal health—that want to tap into the opinions and ideas of their customers and potential customers.

Why do you need so much information about me?

Companies that hire VetMEDResearch almost always have a specific profile of their customer or potential customer. Having basic profile information about you, your work role, and experience helps me match you to surveys you’ll qualify for. It also reduces the possibility that you won’t qualify for a study.

What happens after I sign up?

After completing the VetMEDResearch registration process, your profile is added to the database, making you eligible to participate. When we have a new study ready for you, you will receive an email from [email protected] with information about the study, the compensation, and how to participate. After completing the survey or participating in a focus group or interview, you will receive your incentive within approximately 5-7 days.

Why are there qualifying questions before each survey?

Qualifying questions are almost always a client requirement to further target the specific people they want to survey. These questions (screening questions) may include questions about your veterinary hospital’s product stocking/use, your product preferences, your level of influence over which products get stocked and recommended to clients, as well as more demographic questions.

I signed up but haven’t heard from you. Why not?

First, make sure that [email protected] is in your address book or safe senders list, so my emails don’t end up in spam! Then check your profile on VetMEDResearch to make sure it is up-to-date by logging in here: https://vetmedresearch.com/login/. We invite members to studies based on the requirements of each survey, so your profile information is what determines if you get invited.

Why do I get disqualified from some surveys?

You might be disqualified from a survey because:

• You did not fit the the survey’s target group.
• Your target group quota is already full. Sometimes it can happen that a target group fills quickly, and is then closed. For this reason it is always recommended that you participate in the survey as soon as possible.
• Some research companies use IP addresses as an added layer of security to prevent multiple submissions. You may not be able to access the survey if someone from the same IP address has already taken part in this survey.
• You filled out the questionnaire too quickly, suggesting that you weren’t reading the questions before responding.

How will I get paid?

Surveys of less than 30 minutes are paid via Amazon gift cards and/or VISA gift cards, fulfilled via email. Members who participate in interviews and focus groups are offered the option of a gift card or a bank check—their choice. Incentives are usually sent within 5-7 days of the completion of the study.

How much will I get paid?

The amount of the incentive depends on the time it will take you to participate. It can range from $15 for a survey of less than 10 minutes to hundreds of dollars for participation in an online focus group.

How can I increase my chances of getting invited to participate?

Make sure my emails are not going into spam by adding [email protected] to your address book or safe senders list. And keep your profile updated. You can do that here: https://vetmedresearch.com/login/.  Keeping an updated profile gives you the best chance.

How often will I be invited to participate in research studies?

Unlike consumer research panels, VetMEDResearch is a specialty panel. You won’t hear from me as often because there are fewer companies doing research. You may only hear from me a couple of times a year. Or you may hear from me every month! I do not send promotional or marketing emails. When I email, it is an invitation to participate in a study or a prompt to update your profile.

How will you protect my privacy?

I protect the confidentiality of all panel members in the following ways:

• Researchers for surveys do not have access to any of your profile information, although they may ask questions in their screener for their reporting purposes.
• Researchers for interviews and focus groups may know your identity and contact information so they can reach you, but they are prohibited from using that information after the study. If you are contacted for any reason by a researcher after you have participated in a study, please alert me at [email protected] so I can address that issue with them.
• Information you provide in surveys, interviews, and focus groups is reported in summary form only. End-clients will not know the identities of those who participated in the research.
• I only use your contact information for panel-related purposes, such as to send you survey invitations and panel communications. I do not share your contact information with any other entity except companies that help with incentive fulfillment, such as Amazon and VISA.

How do I unsubscribe from the panel?

If you are no longer working in veterinary medicine or just don’t want to participate in research studies, you can unsubscribe at any time by clicking “unsubscribe” at the bottom of any email I send to you. You can also email me at [email protected] and simply put “unsubscribe” in the subject line.