Introducing Connect by CloudResearch: Advancing Online Participant Recruitment in the Digital Age

Abstract

This paper introduces Connect, CloudResearch's innovative platform designed to revolutionize the realm of online participant recruitment in social and behavioral science research. Operating as a marketplace, Connect facilitates interactions between researchers and participants, enabling the deployment of surveys and experiments constructed via third-party tools such as Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, and Google forms. With its current focus on the U.S. demographic (with plans of future expansion to other English-speaking countries) and those aged 18 and above, Connect proves versatile in accommodating a diverse range of studies, including academic, market, and user experience research, as well as machine learning. Connect's uniqueness lies in its tri-fold emphasis on advanced features, data quality, and affordability. Advanced attributes include collaborative tools, a flexible API, and capabilities supporting intricate study designs. To assure impeccable data quality, Connect incorporates Sentry®, CloudResearch’s proprietary participant vetting mechanism, coupled with stringent technical evaluations. Despite these advancements, Connect remains cost-effective, charging researchers the lowest service fee in the online recruitment sector. This paper delves deeper into the platform’s attributes, with particular attention to its emphasis on participant experience, advanced functionalities, and the robust data quality assurance methods in place.