User research, explained
For the people who run studies and the people who take them: short illustrated explainers, an honest guide to paid research studies, and open UX research jobs.
Six sentences, three pictures
User research topics explained briefly, drawn clearly, with every source linked.
Paid studiesTen platforms compared
Who can join, what they pay, how fast the money arrives, and how to spot a fake.
Jobs37 UX research roles
Open roles from companies' own careers pages, with pay where published.
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Latest explainers
Screener surveys: how researchers find the right people
The short questionnaire that decides who gets the interview, and how good ones keep bluffers out.
How many participants does a study need?
Why five people is the famous answer, when it isn't, and how interviews use a different rule.
Research incentives: what participants get paid, and why
How studies set the thank-you payment, what it does to who shows up, and how the money actually arrives.
Newest research roles
- Lyft · New York, NY
- Mercury · San Francisco, CA, New York, NY, Portland, OR, or Remote within Canada or United States$189K – $237K
- 6sense · Austin, Texas, United States
- HighLevel · United States (remote)$200K – $250K
- Intrinsic (Alphabet) · Mountain View, California
Paid studies at a glance
| Platform | Good for | Pay (as stated) | Paid via | How fast | Minimum cash-out | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Respondent | Professionals and consumers who want paid interviews and focus groups | $40–150 per remote interview; $5–25 per short task | Tremendous gift card or virtual Visa (USD) | 7–10 business days after the researcher confirms | None | Many countries; sign-up in English |
| User Interviews | Browsing open studies and applying to the ones that fit | Studies listed from about $20 to $300+; average over $45 | Tremendous gift cards or prepaid cards (or the researcher's own method) | Usually 1–2 days; at most 10 business days | None stated | 34 listed countries |
| Prolific | Short online studies and academic surveys, paid to PayPal | At least £6 / $8 an hour; recommended £9 / $12 | PayPal only | After approval (auto-approved after 22 days); cash-out within 24 hours | £6 / $6 | 52 listed countries (waitlist) |
| dscout | Phone-based diary studies and video interviews | Most payouts $25–150; quick studies $2–25 | PayPal only | Within 10 business days of the study closing | None stated | Mainly US and UK, plus other countries |
| UserTesting | Recorded think-aloud tests of websites and apps | Shown per test (example rates: $4 short test, $10 standard, $30 per 30-minute live call) | PayPal only (USD) | About 14 days after the test | None | No fixed list; depends on demand |