How to Save Money & Time on Participant Recruiting

With the economy being what it is these days, we often get asked to validate the fees that we charge for participant recruiting and sometimes potential clients see the value and sometimes budgets being what they are it's just not feasible for us to take on their project. Even though, it never ceases to amaze me how many companies look to online resources such as Craigslist to recruit their respondents; the faster cheaper alternative.

However, when this post which includes the client's entire screener which was posted by a well respected organization with "real ethnographers" on staff, was forwarded to me, it leads me to ask many questions, other than; "What were they thinking?" or "Shouldn't they know better?", how about "How can you expect to get valid results?", "What's the point?", "How can 'real ethnographers' allow this?" yada, yada, yada... I'll let you all decide as I can't even begin to get my mind around this particular post;

"An international firm is seeking people of all ages who are Snackers and Popcorn Fanatics. We would like to learn about your snacking experiences and how you get creative with snacks.

We would like to talk to people who might fit one or more these categories:

Snacking Enthusiasts:

· You are a Snack Enthusiast – you eat mostly snacks, very few ‘meals’

· You are part of a group of friends who hang out socially on a regular basis, SNACKS always involved – late night snack runs, Movie or Bad TV night, share bags of _________ (teens, college students, poker night, etc, etc)

· You prepare snacks for a large number of people on a regular basis (for a Day Care for kids, Fraternity House, etc)

· Your family is extremely on the go and finds creative ways to fit food into your life

· You are a serious Grain or Puffed Grain Enthusiast – puffed cereals, rice or grain cakes, etc

· You LOVE chips

· You are very interested in eating fiber

· You are currently dieting and working on transitioning to thinking about food in a new way/making changes in food choices

PopCorn Enthusiasts:

· You are a serious Pre-popped Popcorn lover – bags, tins, tubs, etc

· You are a Popcorn Purist

· You adore Screaming Yellow Zonkers, Poppycock, FiddleFaddle, Lesser Evil, Pirates Booty, or other similar flavored popcorn brands

· You are a Popcorn Connoisseur

· You operate a Kettle Corn stand (OK this one's a bit far fetched so I'll let it slide but come on!)

· Your Kids love popcorn – pre-popped rather than microwaved

· You get really creative with popcorn or have a Popcorn Tradition devising unique creations

· Pre-popped popcorn is your go-to snack

Please fill out this survey below for consideration: (all info will be kept confidential)
Please send completed response to: XXXX@actualnameofcompany.com

1. How do you fit the criteria above? (please do not copy and paste from above but explain in DETAIL how you fit into the criteria so we know how you will fit for our study!) Wow, well now is really a chance to make sure you fit the criteria, sign me up!

2. What are your favorite snacks? If applicable, your child/children favorite snacks?

3. What brands of popcorn do you purchase and eat?

4. Do you/your family have a unique snacking tradition or secret snack recipe? Please share:

5. Please tell us a little about your food philosophy, if applicable, for your family as well:

6. Where do you purchase food and snacks - for yourself as well as for your family?

And my favorite: What brought you to Craigslist today?

Please feel free to forward this to others that you think would enjoy taking part in this study."

Yes, by all means tell all your friends what to say so they can qualify, maybe as the lead you'll even get to host a peer group in your home with all of your friends you've turned on to this fun and lucrative opportunity.

I'm sorry I'm speechless but I have to say this certainly doesn't bode well for the argument of using "real ethnographers", "true ethnography" etc...