What makes survey participation feel worth it
Core finding
Respondents want clearer reasons to participate honestly, but good participation also depends on whether survey-related tasks feel accessible and worth the effort.
About 80% say the market research industry should explain why people should participate honestly in surveys. At the same time, digital-document problems and incentive preferences point to practical participation barriers.
Adults want the purpose of honest participation explained
About 80% say the market research industry should tell people why they should participate honestly in surveys.
Only 15% say no, and 5% say they do not know what the market research industry is.
Stacked breakdown
80% say the market research industry should explain why honest participation matters.
n = 1,000 · Aug 1–6, 2025 · MoE ±3.2%
Digital-document barriers are common
The most common accessibility difficulty is a document that did not open or display correctly on a phone or computer, selected by 35%.
When people last had trouble using a digital document, 30% tried to find another way, 25% pushed through despite frustration, and 11% gave up and did not complete it.
Topline
35% report documents that did not open or display correctly.
n = 1,000 · Aug 1–6, 2025 · MoE ±3.2%
Incentive preferences become sharper for higher-effort asks
For survey participation, PayPal is the most preferred incentive type at 47%, followed by Amazon gift cards at 20% and Venmo at 14%.
For taking home photos during a survey, 33% say they would need more than $50 to be motivated, and 9% would not consider it for any incentive.
Topline
47% would most likely choose PayPal as a survey incentive.
n = 1,000 · Aug 1–6, 2025 · MoE ±3.2%
Methodology
Full methodology →| Mode | Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting |
|---|---|
| Population | United States adults |
| Field dates | Aug 1–6, 2025 |
| Base (unweighted) | 1,000 |
| Margin of error | ±3.2% |
| Module | B |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- verasight-quirks-2025.tiiny.co
Should the market research industry tell you why you should participate honestly in surveys?
- verasight-quirks-2025.tiiny.co
Have you experienced any of the following difficulties when trying to make documents accessible?
- verasight-quirks-2025.tiiny.co
What did you do the last time you had trouble using a digital document?
- verasight-quirks-2025.tiiny.co
If you were offered an incentive for participating in a survey such as this one, what type of incentive would you most likely choose?
- verasight-quirks-2025.tiiny.co
If you were asked to take 1 or more pictures of your home during a survey, such as a pantry or laundry room, what level of incentive would motivate you to do so?
Cite this topic
Verasight Quirks Omnibus Survey, fielded August 1-6, 2025, N=1,000 United States adults, +/- 3.2%.