5 Things That Make a Qualitative Research Participant Great

Part of what makes human subject research ‘good’ is the participants themselves, because their characteristics directly affect their ability to provide quality insights. Today, we’ll discuss five things that help to make a participant great so that you can be on the lookout for them the next time you conduct research.

1 - They are an effective communicator

In research, it doesn’t get much better than working with a participant who can efficiently and effectively communicate with you. Not only do they lead by ensuring that they understand your questions before answering them, but they also recognize how long or short of a response any given question requires as well as how much detail they should include. This allows you, as a researcher, to make the most of your allotted time with the participant and extract valuable information in a way that is not akin to pulling teeth.

2 - They have a strong understanding of the topic and come prepared to share their thoughts on it

A great participant will come prepared. Take, for example, a person who is participating in a study where they need to provide an evaluation of various products or companies. They will review their notes beforehand so that their ideas are top of mind, which will allow the research process to run seamlessly. Additionally, these same participants will often also have great self awareness when it comes to their knowledge. They have a strong understanding of the topic at hand, they recognize what they do and do not know, and they come ready to share it openly.

3 - They are honest and authentic

The ideal research participant is always honest because they understand that their responses will have a large impact on the study as a whole and that being dishonest could jeopardize the study’s validity. Moreover, they acknowledge that they will not always have the answer and that it is always better for them to tell the truth rather than say what they feel the researcher wants to hear.

4 - They show up on time and come with a good energy

Participants who are both physically and mentally present at the proper time and who arrive with energy always have a positive impact on the research. With these attributes, not only can the research get underway on time, thereby allowing the researcher to make use of the entire session, but by arriving eager to answer questions with a positive attitude, the entire experience is all the more pleasant. The conversation can flow more naturally, allowing the researcher to obtain insights in an increasingly organic way.

5 - They are in a suitable environment

A contributing factor to effectively conducting qualitative research is the environment that the participant is in. A great participant will be in a suitable space that allows both themselves and the researcher to focus on the task at hand. Their environment will be free of distractions including technological devices, other people, and pets and their full attention will be given to the researcher during the allotted time.

Written by: Sadie Estey