Unscientific sampling generates respondents that are motivated to earn modest financial rewards and so they do a lot of surveys. Such respondents will misrepresent themselves to qualify for surveys and are deeply affected by the learning effects of completing so many surveys.
Real respondents are mostly motivated by the opportunity to share their opinions. Without direct financial incentives (which Modus does not offer to its panel members), respondents lack the motivation to misrepresent themselves. That’s what makes them real.
Modus Research chooses all of its panel members randomly; respondents can’t join our panels without being invited via random probability telephone calls. They are real respondents.
A groundbreaking study conducted by the Market Research and Intelligence Association (MRIA) revealed that members of opt-in panels:
- Are overwhelmingly motivated by financial reward
- Belong to many panels and complete many surveys
- Complete surveys at an alarming frequency and often speed through them
Unscientific opt-in panels are, in short, replete with professional (fake) respondents. Such respondents will often misrepresent themselves to earn modest financial rewards. Data from such panels are not reliable and should not be used to make important decisions.
With a Modus probability panel you get real respondents.