Where exactly are studies conducted?

Studies may take place in any number of locations: a usability lab, a focus group facility, out in the field (eg, in homes, offices, or stores), or in a client conference room.

How do you find your study participants?

Some clients rely on in-house recruiters, while others ask us to outsource and manage the participant recruiting process. We have a network of professional vendors with whom we work regularly. In both scenarios, recruiters contact people from their own databases or from lists provided by the client. They follow a “screener” (or script) that we carefully craft in advance, so that only those who meet a pre-defined set of requirements are selected.

Are participants paid for their time?

Participants usually receive “incentives” to participate in a research study. Incentive amounts vary depending on the city, study length, and type of user being targeted. Studies may pay anywhere from $50 to more than $300 per participant.  

How much research should a company conduct, and when?

The answer depends on the company and the product. But the bottom line is that more user research is better than less, some is better than none, and conducting it early and often is ideal.

What’s the story behind the name Eureka! Insights?

The word “Eureka” refers to the “aha” moment, or sudden connection that occurs in the right side of the brain when one first discovers or realizes something. According to legend, when Archimedes observed the water overflow as he stepped into his bath, he suddenly realized he could determine the volume and density of the king’s crown by measuring the amount of water it displaced. He then shouted, “Eureka! I have found it!” In the context of user research and user-centered design, it is often qualitative user research that yields these “aha” moments.