“How much do focus groups pay?” is one of the most common questions we’re asked about focus groups at Angelfish!
The short answer is: It depends on several factors, including how long the focus group takes, the nature of the project, and (if it’s face-to-face) how far you need to travel to take part.
We’ve gone into this in more detail, as well as answering some of the other big questions we’re often asked by participants before they join the Angelfish Community below:
Your 7 biggest questions about focus groups, answered:
1. What actually is a focus group?
A focus group is where a group of people, usually between six and ten, take part in a discussion on a particular topic, product, service or concept. This could be anything from the daily household products you use to the toys your children play with, education to healthcare issues, and more.
The discussion (which will either take place in a physical venue or online) will be monitored by a moderator, who may ask questions to prompt your conversations further or steer you back on track if the chat goes on a tangent!
2. What are focus groups for?
In short, focus groups provide an opportunity for brands and businesses to gather insights from the users of their products and services to see what people like about them, and how they can make them better.
3. How much do focus groups pay?
As mentioned above, the financial incentive you’re paid for taking part in a focus group will depend on several factors surrounding the project.
For example, a two-hour long focus group will usually pay more than a one-hour focus group, and you’ll usually be paid more if you have to travel above a certain distance to take part.
Another factor that will affect how much you’re paid is the actual topic you’ll be discussing; for example, there are some focus groups that will explore more sensitive topics (which you will always be made aware of as part of giving your consent to take part), which usually pay more than focus groups discussing more general topics.
As a general overview though, depending on the study, you will usually receive between £50 and £65 (either in cash or in the form of a voucher) for a generic 60-minute focus group.
4. Apart from the pay, why else should I take part in a focus group?
While the financial incentives for taking part in a focus group are obviously a big draw, there are lots of other reasons to take part in a focus group, such as:
- the chance to share your opinions with your favourite brands on their products and services
- the opportunity to meet with likeminded people to discuss the topics that matter to you
- the chance to make a truly positive change in the world around you
- it’s great fun (check out our participants’ testimonials to see for yourself)!
5. What is taking part in a focus group like?
You can expect to have plenty of fun on the day of your focus group. You’ll be met and welcomed by a member of the research team, and introduced to the other participants. If the research is taking place in a physical venue, you’ll also be told where different facilities are in the building, such as bathrooms.
Before you get into the nitty-gritty of the study, you’ll probably start with a couple of fun “ice-breaker” activities to help you get to know the other participants a bit better and “warm up” ready for the discussion.
During the actual session, you’ll be asked a number of questions around the topic to answer as part of the group. You’re not obliged to answer if you don’t want to, but if you do, be as honest and open as possible so the researcher can really understand your thoughts and feelings on the topic!
6. Can I take part with friends or my family?
Absolutely! If you’re too shy to go on your own to a focus group, be sure to get your friends to sign up; researchers often need friendship pairs or groups for their studies, which means that you and your friends can take part together!
Many projects also involve getting family members involved so that you can share your opinions as both an individual and a family unit.
7. What happens after I’ve taken part?
After the research is over, you’ll get paid your incentive for taking part, and may even receive an overview of the research findings after they’ve been analysed.
You’ll also get the chance to share your feedback about the project, including what you enjoyed about taking part and what you think could be done better if similar research is done in the future.
8. How can I get involved?
There are a few different ways to get involved in paid focus groups, but by far the quickest, best and safest way is to sign up to a dedicated community, such as the one we have here at Angelfish Opinions!
It’s really easy to do; simply complete our registration form in as much detail as you can, and we’ll email you with all the upcoming projects we think you’ll enjoy.
You can also take a look at the projects we currently have on the go to see if there are any you like the sound of, and apply to take part from there!
Do you have any other questions about focus groups?
Now we’ve answered some of the most popular questions we get asked – from “what is a focus group?” to “how much do focus groups pay?” and beyond – hopefully you now feel more confident to get involved!
If so, you can get started today by following the link below to sign up to the Angelfish Community.
If you’ve got any other questions, though, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team – they’d be more than happy to help!
