Participants arriving for a focus group in a bright research facility

Qualitative Recruitment

Articulate, verified participants for focus groups, in-depth interviews, ethnography and online communities, re-screened and confirmed before every session.

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Feasibility and costs in 24 hours
One project manager from brief to data
ICC/ESOMAR and GDPR compliant

Best for: Focus groups, in-depth interviews, ethnography and communities
Audiences: Consumers, parents, B2B buyers, professionals and experts
Formats: In person, online video, telephone and asynchronous
You receive: A confirmed participant grid, standbys and session reminders

Overview

Qualitative research only works when the right person fills every chair. Research and Metric provides qualitative recruitment for focus groups, in-depth interviews, ethnography and online communities. We match each participant to your screener and to the conversation you need.

First, we re-screen every participant by phone. We also recruit standbys for every session and keep reminders going until it starts.

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Qualitative recruitment result: participants in a lively focus group discussion in a bright, modern research room — We balance groups on your quotas and check for articulate, engaged participants.

Qualitative formats we recruit for

Focus groups and mini groupsIn person or online.
In-depth interviewsBy video, telephone or in person.
Ethnography and in-home visitsIncluding accompanied shops and ride-alongs.
Asynchronous online communitiesAnd diary studies over several days.
Usability and concept sessionsFor products, apps and packaging.

How we protect show rates and fit

A no-show or a poor fit costs a whole session, so we manage both actively.

Phone re-screening of every participant before confirmation
Articulation checks so participants can express a view
Past-participation limits to keep professional respondents out
Standby participants for every group and interview slot
Confirmation and reminder messages ahead of every session

A woman taking part in an online in-depth interview from her bright home — Online interviews let us recruit beyond one city without losing quality.

Choosing a field research recruitment agency

A good field research recruitment agency does more than fill seats. For example, it should explain how it verifies each participant and what happens when someone drops out.

The same discipline applies across face-to-face research recruitment, but each method has its own demands. Central location testing (CLT) needs participants to arrive at a set venue at set times. Product testing participant recruitment, in contrast, needs people who match the category and can give honest feedback. Therefore, brief your agency on the method as well as the audience.

Ask any agency these questions before you commit:

How do you verify who each participant is?
How do you keep professional respondents out?
What is your standby plan for each session?
How do you handle participants' personal data?

Step by step

How qualitative recruitment works

Screener and gridWe agree quotas, mix and the participant grid with your team.
SourcingWe recruit from our networks, targeted lists and referrals for the audience.
Re-screeningThen we re-screen each candidate by phone and check fit and articulation.
SchedulingNext, we book and brief participants and standbys, and send any pre-tasks.
Session supportFinally, we send reminders and replace late drop-outs before the session.

Why agencies choose Research and Metric

Every participant re-screened by phone
Standbys booked for every session
Consumer, B2B and specialist recruitment from one team
ESOMAR-aligned processes and GDPR-compliant data handling

See this work in practice

interviews with small business cyber-security buyers

Get a quote

Send us your brief

Tell us who you need to reach, where and how many. We reply with a plan.

Feasibility and costs in 24 hours
One project manager from brief to data
ICC/ESOMAR and GDPR compliant

Start your brief

Prefer to talk first?

Email uscontact@researchandmetric.com Call us+1 240-980-1551

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Cannot find your answer? Ask our team or email contact@researchandmetric.com.

How many standbys do you recruit for focus groups?

We agree the number with you for each study. We recruit standbys for every group, so a late drop-out does not leave an empty seat.

Can you recruit for online focus groups and interviews?

Yes. We recruit for video groups, online interviews and asynchronous communities. We also check that each participant has the device and connection the session needs.

How do you keep professional respondents out?

We check participation history and limit how recently someone took part in research. We also re-screen every participant by phone.

Can you recruit B2B buyers and experts for interviews?

Yes. We verify job title, employer and decision authority. Then we schedule interviews around senior calendars.

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