Screener Survey

A screener survey is a short questionnaire used before a research session to determine whether a potential participant matches the target audience — filtering out people who don't fit the profile and ensuring that the people who complete the study actually represent the users being researched.

Who you test with matters as much as what you test. A usability study run with participants who don't match your target user profile produces findings that may not be relevant to the people who actually use the product. A screener prevents that by qualifying participants on the criteria that matter for a given study — role, industry, experience level, product usage, or whatever attributes define the audience being researched.

Good screeners are short, specific, and include disqualifying criteria as well as qualifying ones. If you're testing a product built for HR managers at companies with over 500 employees, the screener should confirm both that the participant is in an HR function and that their company is the right size. Participants who don't meet both criteria should be screened out before the session begins, not discovered to be the wrong fit halfway through.

Screeners also need to be written carefully to avoid telegraphing the 'right' answers. If participants can tell from the questions which responses will get them selected, they'll answer strategically rather than honestly, which defeats the purpose of screening entirely. Effective screeners ask about behaviors and contexts rather than explicitly asking participants to confirm they fit the desired profile.

‍