Every paid focus group, research study and clinical trial on FindPaidFocusGroup is checked by a person before it goes live. We’ve been listing paid studies since 2013, and in that time we’ve learned what separates a real research opportunity from a waste of time or a scam. This page explains exactly what we check.
What we check before a study is published
1. The company is a real research firm or clinic
We only list studies from established market research companies, recruiting facilities, universities and licensed clinical research sites, such as Fieldwork, L&E Research, User Interviews, Respondent, ICON and Celerion. If we can’t confirm who is running a study, we don’t list it.
2. The link goes to the company’s own sign-up page
Every “Apply” link takes you straight to the research company’s own screener or study page. We never ask you to sign up with us to see a study, and we never collect your answers to a screener.
3. Pay, dates and who can apply are confirmed
We read the original listing and copy the important details into a clear summary: how much the study pays, whether it’s online or in person, where it takes place, the dates, and who the researchers are looking for. When a listing says “up to”, we say “up to” too.
4. No study ever asks you to pay
Real research companies pay you, never the other way around. We reject anything that asks for a fee, a deposit, gift cards, bank logins or your Social Security number up front.
5. Closed studies are removed automatically
Each study has a closing date. When it passes, or when a study is more than six months old, it is taken down automatically and the page sends you to current studies in the same city instead. That way you don’t waste time applying to studies that have already filled.
6. New studies are added every day
We check our sources daily, so the newest studies are usually at the top of the homepage and the nationwide studies page within hours of being posted.
What if a study is already full?
Each study shows when it was added to the site. Research companies sometimes fill a study faster than expected, so if a link says a study is full, check the other studies in your city or the nationwide studies you can join from home.
How to spot a fake focus group
- It asks you to pay. A fee to “register”, “unlock” studies or receive your payment is always a scam.
- It pays you before you do anything. Real studies pay after the session. A check that arrives early, with a request to send part of it back, is a classic scam.
- The pay is far too high for the task. $500 for a 10-minute survey is not real. Higher pay comes with longer studies, specialist participants or clinical trials.
- It asks for sensitive details too early. You shouldn’t share bank logins or your Social Security number to apply. Clinical trials may need ID and medical details later, at the clinic.
- You can’t tell who is running it. Real studies name the research company or clinic, and you can find its website.
Found a problem with a study?
If a study link is broken, the details don’t match, or something looks wrong, please let us know through our About page. We check every report and remove studies that don’t meet these standards.
Ready to find a study? Browse paid focus groups by city or see nationwide studies you can join from home.