What Leads to Bad Quality in Research Panels? Part III

Keeping your panelists engaged is key to getting reliable, high-quality data. However, many organizations get too caught up in the recruitment processes and collecting data that they overlook the importance of nurturing their panelists.

This oversight can lead to losing valuable participation, and it could compromise the quality of your research. In this blog, we’ll explore how ignoring engagement can hurt your data, share tips on keeping your panelists motivated and involved, and explain why a well-engaged panel is worth the effort.

In this three-part series, we discuss the top reasons for bad quality in online research panels and how you can avoid them.

Part 1 explored the pitfalls of rushed recruitment.

In Part 2, we shared the risks of disregarding due diligence.

Here in Part 3, we will discuss the impact of panel engagement.

Ignoring Panel Engagement

High-quality and engaged panelists are a valuable asset, especially in the B2B sector where they can be particularly hard to find. So, how can researchers effectively nurture these panelists to boost the quality of insights?

Best Practices in Panel Engagement

• Manage expectations by being transparent in how often participants will be contacted and what surveys will entail
• Make it easy, accessible, and convenient for participants to access your survey
• Keep your survey short
• Personalize interactions with the panelists and branded communications to be identifiable
• Reward panelists in a way that’s relevant to them
• Stay top-of-mind through social media and regular communication without bombarding them

How Overlooking Engagement Leads to Bad Quality

Overlooking panel engagement can ultimately lead to poor-quality data and research outcomes.

When engagement is neglected, panelists can feel undervalued or disconnected from the process, which can result in a significant drop in participation. The most immediate and obvious consequence is that your panelists may choose to leave or disengage entirely, forcing you to undertake the time-consuming and costly task of repeating the recruitment and training process.

Additionally, without consistent engagement, you may overlook important warning signs of low-quality responses, fraudulent activity, and disengaged participants.

Ultimately, overlooking engagement doesn’t just impact individual surveys or studies—it can undermine the entire foundation of your research efforts. Ensuring that panelists are engaged, valued, and motivated is critical to producing high-quality research that drives meaningful outcomes.

For more information on how we effectively manage engagement in our online research panels, contact IRB today!