Coronavirus Pandemic: Effects on the Online Survey Sector

Navigating the Impact of COVID-19 on Online Surveys

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked numerous concerns among our user community, particularly regarding its potential effects on the availability and nature of online surveys. Common queries revolve around the possibility of a decrease in survey opportunities, changes in compensation, and the long-term implications of the pandemic on the survey industry.

A Public Health Emergency: First and foremost, the COVID-19 crisis is a serious public health emergency. It is crucial for everyone, regardless of age or health status, to practice social distancing and contribute to the collective effort of curbing the virus’s spread. While the risk of severe illness may be lower for younger individuals, it is our responsibility to protect the more vulnerable segments of our society.

Market Research Industry Status: Despite the global upheaval, the market research industry is striving to maintain operations as close to normal as possible. We have received communications from various market research firms assuring us of their commitment to continue functioning amidst the crisis.

Effects on Research Methods: In-person research activities, such as focus groups and clinical trials, are understandably being postponed or canceled to minimize face-to-face interactions. This also extends to product testing assignments, which may face delays or cancellations. However, online surveys, being digital and cloud-based, are expected to remain unaffected.

Demographic Shifts and Survey Taker Expectations: There may be shifts in the demographics of survey respondents, with those who have children at home due to school closures potentially having less time to participate in surveys. Additionally, areas with high infection rates may prioritize local health management over survey completion.

Survey Takers’ Outlook: For the majority of survey takers, operations are expected to continue with minimal disruption. However, there might be a short-term decrease in survey inventory as corporate clients adjust their research budgets. We anticipate an increase in government and academic research, which may offset this decrease.

Rewards Delivery and Survey Taker Inflow: The delivery of physical rewards, such as gift cards and merchandise, may be delayed due to the pandemic. It is advisable to opt for digital rewards like PayPal payments or digital gift cards during this period. While there may be an increase in survey takers due to more people being online, many will be preoccupied with more pressing concerns, such as caregiving and job security.

Temporary Disruption and Future Outlook: We are hopeful that the negative impacts on the survey industry will be temporary. The global economic disruption caused by COVID-19 is significant, and while the risk of a recession is real, the full extent of the changes will only be apparent once the situation stabilizes. Our primary focus now is on supporting each other through these challenging times.

Acknowledgments and Wishes: We extend our heartfelt thanks to our community for their trust in SurveyPolice as a reliable source of information on online survey taking for the past 15 years. Your support has been invaluable.

We wish you, your family, and your friends good health and resilience in these trying times.Discussion and Updates: For those interested in discussing the impact of COVID-19 with fellow survey takers, we have initiated a dedicated forum topic: Discussion on the Coronavirus.