20/20 Research Inc. Review: A Legit Online Survey Panel to Join?

One of the most prestigious, yet rather unknown (to people who want to earn extra money through paid surveys) survey panels, 20/20 Research, is the subject of today’s review on SurveySatrap.

Let’s first get a quick overview of the company behind the panel.

Company Background

A provider of qualitative research services, 20 20 Research Inc. was founded by Jim Bryson, the President of QRCA, in the year 1986.

The group is known for its expertise in using focus groups to help collect feedback and opinion from consumers.

20 20 Research achieves this by putting together a discussion panel typically consisting of around 10 consumers. This allows consumers to interact in a better manner.

In addition to real time focus groups, the company also conducts discussion boards and online surveys.

While 20 20 Research started out as a marketing research company offering all services under a single roof, it has since then achieved great growth and success.

Counting up to July 2013, the company had a roster of over 80 employees, both full- and part-time.

20 20 Research also boasts of a rather rich client list with some big names like Yahoo, Rubbermaid, Dell, Discovery, Kraft, Disney, Microsoft in addition to many others.

Better Business Bureau’s Rating

Not surprising, 20/20 Research, Inc. gets an A+ rating from the BBB.

A quick note: I just want to mention that the company has offices in different cities, which is why they also have different profiles on the BBB each with a different address.

There is nothing fishy going on here, it’s just common practice. So don’t be alarmed by the fact that there are different addresses for the same company.

Joining the Site

To become a member of this site, you need to be a resident of the United States, have access to a PC (or a Mac) protected by an anti-virus program, an email account and of course, a telephone number to enable the recruiter to give you a call if need be.

20 20 Research, unlike some other dodgy businesses, doesn’t charge you a single penny to sign-up with it.

The site though does require you to dispense with as many details about yourself as possible. This is done to ensure that the right balance is achieved between 20 20 Research’s client requirements and your time.

The more information you provide, better is your chance of being eligible for a survey/study.

After having done with the registration formalities, the site will contact you through either phone or email. You will be asked a set of questions by the recruiter to gauge if you ‘suit’ the eligibility criteria for any study.

In case you do, the login details will be dispatched to you a day prior to the survey/study.

Focus groups based online typically accommodate 15 panelists apart from the professional moderator.

Focus groups conducted in-house consist of around half that number.

Some of the places where in-house focus groups are located include

• Charlotte
• North Carolina
• Miami
• Florida
• Nashville
• Tennessee

That apart, there are also many more focus groups based online that you can participate in.

Compensation & Rewards

The payment for surveys is released at $50, $100, $150 milestones and this depends on the duration and length of the survey/study.

The payment is usually done through mailed checks but it’s also possible for members to get paid through gift cards.

At times, members are even compensated with the products themselves (like a gadget or a computer game).

My Personal Experience

This firm provides members with many opportunities to participate in telephonic interviews and online focus groups.

Personally, since joining the site, I have been part of 3-5 online focus groups each year.

Normally, a single focus group was conducted over 3-4 days where all you had to do was login to the online discussion board every day and spend around an hour on average answering different questions from the moderator in addition to entering your responses to the comments and answers of fellow participants.

For each completed project, I earned around $75-$100.

I was also part of a couple of one day long focus groups with each earning me around $25-$30.

Members are usually paid by 20 20 Research through checks, which arrive in 2-3 weeks after the completion of your focus group stints.

Is the Site Legit?

Absolutely!

20 20 Research is legal and has the backing of one of the most famous nationally syndicated experts on consumer affairs, Clark Howard.

As is well-known, Clark is host of The Clark Howard Show on radio and has plenty of advice for listeners/consumers on the ways of managing their money.

He has also authored Get Clark Smart, a popular book on the subject.

Every year, Clark undertakes an exercise whereby he updates his in-house list of the top 20 best work-at-home companies. You can look up his 2013 list on his website.

However, after having read so many reviews on the web and experiencing first hand it’s services, I’ve got to say that 20 20 Research makes it very difficult for you to qualify for its studies; the site’s great payment terms and legitimacy notwithstanding.

But this also points to the fact that the site is doing the right thing by allowing only the most suitable people into its studies.

As such, I’d advise you to register with 20 20 Research and be on the lookout for a study suited to your profile as the site does boast of payment terms that are far better than the competition.