What is it? There are many interpretations of this term. For the purposes of the UX Lex, it refers to the people who have consented to take part in one specific, or a number of research studies, which may or not be on the same topic. It is also a stage in the recruiting selection process. 

The data associated with these people range from limited information, captured in a scrappy format and managed in-house with Excel or GoogleSheets, to elaborate databases on separate platforms owned by independent sample panels (e.g. Cint, Lucid, etc.,) or maybe company specific (e.g. Google). Some research platforms (e.g. UsabilityHub.com, DScout, Qualtrics, Discuss.io, etc.,) also offer participant pools to tap into when using their platform. 

Joining a participant pool/panel requires people to provide information about themselves which can range from simple product usage status to full demographic and behavioral data.  

When is it best used? Participant pools/panels can be used for both short or long term needs. People can recruit research study participants from the pool/panel that meet their specific recruitment criteria for each study, usually requiring separate screening. Participants are recruited this way for both qualitative and quantitative research needs.

What does it entail? Building a participant pool involves gathering information from a group of people through screener surveys, data analytics, or database filters internally or by an independent recruiter. Those who take part in research studies receive an incentive in exchange for their participation.

There are several legal and security requirements to consider when building and managing a participant  pool/panel. Examples include HIPPA, GDPR, CCPA and other compliance laws. Teams can run into trouble over-using their participant pool if multiple teams are pulling from the same audience and protocols do not protect over-solicitation and the need to regularly replenish the pool/panel with new people.

Interchangeable term: panel

Use in a sentence: Professors select freshman students from their overall student participant pool to take part in a study to refine their first semester course materials.

Related terms: recruiting, sample panel, research panel, MROC

Visual: No

Share this page