Guide to creating Effective Screener Questions

Why Screener Questions Matter for Your Research

Finding the right people for your research is like finding the right ingredients for a recipe - use the wrong ones and your results will fall flat. Screener questions are your secret weapon for filtering out participants who don't match your needs and bringing in those who do.

Bad screener questions can lead to wasted time, money, and worst of all - research that points you in the completely wrong direction. This guide will show you exactly how to create screener questions that work, with real examples you can use today.

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What Exactly Are Screener Questions?

Screener questions are filtering tools placed at the beginning of your research to quickly identify who should (and shouldn't) participate. They act like a digital bouncer, only letting in people who meet your specific criteria.

Real-world example: If you're studying how parents use educational apps for their children, a simple screener might ask:
✅ "Do you have children between the ages of 5-12 who use educational apps?"

• Yes, they use them regularly
• Yes, but only occasionally
• No, my children don't use educational apps ❌ (Disqualified)
• I don't have children in this age range ❌ (Disqualified)

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Why Good Screener Questions Can Make or Break Your Research

The right screener questions don't just save time - they completely transform your research quality:

1. They deliver insights that actually matter - By focusing only on relevant participants
2. They save your budget - No more wasting money interviewing the wrong people
3. They prevent misleading conclusions - Garbage in, garbage out applies to research too
4. They make analysis easier - When everyone fits your criteria, patterns emerge more clearly

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How to Write Screener Questions That Actually Work

1. Know Exactly Who You're Looking For

Before writing a single question, create a clear profile of your ideal participant:

• What behaviors must they have? (Example: "Uses food delivery apps weekly")
• What experiences are essential? (Example: "Has purchased a home in the last year")
• What demographics matter for your research? (Example: "Parents of teenagers")

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2. Avoid Questions That Hint at "Right" Answers

When participants can guess what you want to hear, your data becomes worthless.

❌ Bad Example:
"Do you consider yourself someone who cares about environmental sustainability?"
(Who would say no? This invites people to lie.)

✅ Good Example:
"Which of these actions have you taken in the past month? Select all that apply."

• Recycled household items
• Used reusable shopping bags
• Purchased products with eco-friendly packaging
• Composted food waste
• None of the above

This reveals actual behavior rather than aspirational self-image.

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3. Use Multiple-Choice Questions for Easy Filtering

Multiple-choice questions make screening efficient and reduce ambiguity.

❌ Bad Example:
"Describe how you manage your personal finances."

✅ Good Example:
"How do you primarily track your personal expenses?"

• I use a budgeting app (like Mint or YNAB)
• I use spreadsheets
• I check my bank statements regularly
• I keep mental track of spending
• I don't actively track my expenses ❌ (Disqualified if you need active trackers)

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4. Write Questions Anyone Can Understand

Complex language creates confusion and inaccurate responses.

❌ Bad Example:
"Have you utilized digital payment infrastructure for peer-to-peer monetary transfers within the previous fiscal quarter?"

✅ Good Example:
"In the past 3 months, have you sent money to friends or family using apps like Venmo, Cash App, or PayPal?"

• Yes, multiple times
• Yes, once or twice
• No, never

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5. Add Attention Checks to Spot Careless Respondents

Some people rush through screeners just to get incentives. Catch them with attention checks.

✅ Good Example:
"For quality purposes, please select 'Somewhat disagree' from the options below."

• Strongly agree
• Somewhat agree
• Neither agree nor disagree
• Somewhat disagree ✅
• Strongly disagree

Anyone who misses this is likely not reading carefully.

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Practical Tips for Better Screener Surveys

1. Use a Funnel Approach

Start with broader questions, then get more specific. This prevents early disqualification of potentially good candidates.

Example sequence:

1. "Do you shop online at least monthly?" (Broad behavior)
2. "Which of these categories do you shop for online?" (More specific)
3. "Have you returned an online purchase in the last 3 months?" (Very specific)

2. Be Transparent But Strategic

Don't reveal exactly what you're looking for, but be honest about the general topic.

❌ Bad Example: "We're looking for people who've had negative experiences with our customer service" ✅ Good Example: "This study is about customer service experiences with various companies"

3. Mix Up Question Types

Combine different question formats to get a complete picture:

• Radio buttons (single choice): "How often do you shop online?" (Never, Monthly, Weekly, Daily)
• Checkboxes (multiple choice): "Which of these apps have you used in the past month?" (Select all that apply)
• Short text: "What's your zip code?" (Brief factual responses)
• Long text: "Describe your most recent online shopping experience." (Detailed explanations)

4. Keep It Short

Aim for 5-7 screener questions maximum. Longer screeners lead to drop-offs and rushed answers.

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Tools That Make Screening Easier

Finding the right participants doesn't have to be complicated with these tools:

• Useresearch – The complete solution for finding real users, creating screener surveys, and conducting interviews all in one place.
• SurveyMonkey – Good for basic screening with limited participant sourcing.
• Typeform – Creates visually appealing surveys but requires separate participant recruitment.
• Google Forms – Free but basic option with no built-in participant sourcing.

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Real Success Stories: Screener Questions in Action

How a Finance App Found Their Ideal Users

A fintech startup needed to test their investment app with novice investors. Their key screener questions:

• "How would you describe your investment experience?" (Looking for "beginners")
• "Which investment platforms have you used before?" (Looking for limited experience)
• "What are your main financial goals?" (Looking for long-term growth goals)

Result: They identified true beginners who were serious about investing, not just anyone with a passing interest.

How a Food Delivery Service Improved Their App

A food delivery company wanted feedback from frequent users in urban areas:

• "How often do you order food delivery?" (Looking for weekly users)
• "Which areas do you typically order delivery to?" (Looking for specific zip codes)
• "What frustrates you most about food delivery?" (Open-ended to identify pain points)

Result: They discovered specific issues affecting their core urban customers that suburban users never experienced.

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Conclusion

Great screener questions are the foundation of meaningful research. By being specific, strategic, and thoughtful in your approach, you'll find exactly the right people to provide insights that actually move your business forward.

Ready to find the perfect participants for your next study? Useresearch makes it easy to create effective screeners and connect with qualified participants who match your exact needs.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. How many screener questions do I really need?

Most effective screeners use 5-7 questions. Focus on quality over quantity - each question should have a specific purpose in identifying your ideal participants.

2. How can I tell if someone is just trying to qualify for the incentive?

Include 1-2 attention check questions and look for inconsistent answers across related questions. Also consider using open-ended questions that require specific knowledge.

3. Should I tell participants they're being screened?

Yes, but don't reveal your exact criteria. Simply state that you're looking for people with specific experiences for your study.

4. What's the biggest mistake people make with screener questions?

Making it obvious what answers will qualify. This leads to participants telling you what they think you want to hear rather than the truth.

5. How do I screen for technical knowledge without using jargon?

Ask about specific behaviors rather than technical terms. Instead of "Do you use SQL databases?" ask "Which of these tools do you use to manage large sets of data at work?"