Research incentive calculator

We recruited 300 participants and asked them to choose between hypothetical research programs, based on the incentives they offered. For example, participants might see the two images listed below. Then they must choose if promotion A or promotion B is a better deal.

In total, we analyzed data from 3,000 simulated decisions. Our analyses yielded valuable insights about:

• How much research participants value their time

• How that valuation changes depending on the design of a study

• How various types of incentives differentially affect participation motivation

This calculator is built from that data. It was developed in partnership with The Decision Lab (TDL), an applied research and innovation firm specializing in human behavior.

Read the full methodology

We compared our calculator to existing incentive calculators. Here’s how ours differs.

1. The Tremendous Research Incentive Calculator is based on experimental data.

   • Other online calculators are based on observational data about completed studies. Their recommendations are grounded in what researchers are currently paying participants.

   • This calculator is based on experimental evidence about research participant preferences and values. Our calculator explains what you should be paying.

2. We recommend paying a higher incentive than other calculators.

   • On average, our recommendations were $5 more than the maximum incentive recommended by the comparison calculator.

   • This was true across study formats (surveys vs. interviews) and various study lengths.

This calculator is for researchers and by researchers. You might find it especially helpful if you’re:

• Budget-constrained and looking to maximize value

• Targeting specific and/or niche populations

• Looking for a reference point to justify your incentive budget to management, finance, or clients

This is v1 of our research, and we started by mapping the fundamentals.

We’re working on additional research to add new features and functionality to the calculator. These include:

• Additional study types

• The ability to optimize incentives by desired outcomes (e.g. response quality; recruitment speed, etc.)

• Participant demographics and geographies

We’d love to hear suggestions on how we can improve the calculator. Email us at [email protected].