Rewards are the main reason people take part in market research. But when a reward is late, wrong or hard to redeem, participants may quietly stop responding. We surveyed Australian research panellists to find out how often the reward experience lets them down, and what research teams can do about it.
Key findings
- 57% rank the reward as their number one reason for participating in research.
- 66% experienced at least one reward problem in the past year.
- 38% have had to contact a research company about a missing or incorrect reward.
- Just 35% are very confident they received every reward they were promised.
What’s inside
The full report covers where reward problems happen, why participants aged 18 to 34 represent the biggest opportunity, a four-part playbook for research and panel teams, and a five-question checklist to pressure-test your own panel.
About the research
An online quantitative survey of 153 Australian research panellists, conducted in late 2025 following qualitative sessions. Results are directional.