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FAQs

Please note that the answers to the frequently asked questions below are for informational purposes only and do not form part of the contract between urban-DNA and the members of urban-DNA.

What's Involved?
Being a panel member is simple and provides rewards for your opinions. Once you join, you will be contacted by e-mail when a survey is available. This e-mail will contain instructions on how to access the survey and details about the rewards you will be eligible to earn. Participation for all surveys is voluntary, with no penalty if you choose not to participate. Most surveys take 5-10 minutes to complete. But, we ask that you try to complete them as soon as possible, since most surveys are only available for a limited time. From time to time, we may invite you to test a product or participate in a research project conducted by telephone or in person. Your participation in these studies as well is always voluntary and compensated.
Still Have Questions?
If you would like to know more, check out our frequently asked questions or contact us at admin@urban-dna.com
What if I have technical difficulties?
You can email us at admin@urban-dna.com for assistance. When emailing us, please include your email address the survey came to and provide as much detail as possible concerning the problem you experienced. Providing your browser type (such as Internet Explorer 4.0 or Netscape Navigator/Communicator) with version number, and Internet Service Provider (such as AOL, Earthlink or Mindspring) would also be helpful. If you are having technical difficulties with a survey you are currently completing, please forward the email invitation to admin@urban-dna.com along with the information listed above.

PANEL/PANEL SERVICE

How do I join the panel?
Visit www.urban-dna.com and click on 'Join Now'. Registration takes just a few minutes.
What do you do with the personal information I provide?
Personal information provided is used to identify you for appropriate surveys to receive and group your answers with other panelists. All personal information is secured and used for analysis only. Your individual identity is always kept confidential and is never provided to a third party. Additional information regarding your privacy can be found in our Privacy Policy section.
How often will I be asked to participate in an online survey?
The actual number of invitations you will receive will vary from month to month. Typically, our panelists are invited to participate in a few surveys per month.
Is there a cost to participate?
There is no cost to participate in urban-DNA Panels.
What if I need to change my e-mail address or other personal information?
Your e-mail address is the best way for us to contact you. Any change in your primary e-mail address is important to us. If you need to change your e-mail address you can do this after you have logged into your account by visiting 'Edit Profile'. After updating your e-mail address, you will receive a confirmation e-mail from urban-DNA. Additionally, you can email changes to admin@urban-dna.com, including both your new and old information.

CURRENT SURVEYS

How will I know when a new survey is available?
We will e-mail you when a new survey is available. Within that e-mail will be instructions on how to access the survey.
How long does it take to complete a survey?
Surveys will vary in length but most take 5-10 minutes to complete.
How do I know if you received my survey?
The last page of every survey contains a "Thank-you" message. This means that we have received your survey information.
What if I have a question about taking a survey?
Can I complete a survey in more than one sitting without starting over?
No.
I made a mistake - can I start over?
Unfortunately, we cannot reset your survey answers. Please answer as best you can for the rest of the survey.
What if I do not want to or do not have time to take a particular survey or I am on vacation?
There may be times when you are unable or do not want to participate in a survey. Your participation is always voluntary. Please feel free to disregard the survey invitation and any reminders pertaining to it. We will keep you on our panel and will notify you of future survey opportunities.
Why was the survey so short? Is that the entire survey?
Sometimes we are only looking for certain types of households (for example, households that purchase electronics). In those cases, we may ask a few questions to determine whether your household qualifies for the rest of the survey. This way, you only complete surveys that are appropriate for you.
Why is there no space on your surveys to explain my answers or add additional comments?
Some surveys do allow you to explain comments you may have. However, many of our clients need survey results very quickly and it can be very time consuming to report detailed responses. When there is no opportunity to share comments within the survey itself, we encourage you to e-mail admin@urban-dna.com with your comments.
Why does the survey continue even after I have stated I do not use or would not purchase this product?
Sometimes, we want to know why you do not or would not buy the product. Asking more questions helps us determine if this is due to price, brand or some other factor.
Why do you ask for opinions on how I think I would like a new product that I have never had the opportunity to try?
Developing a new product can be very expensive, so before spending many dollars on development, companies often ask us to help them determine if there is a need for the new product. Opinions about products vary widely even without trying them. This may be because you simply would not use such a product, or it may be due to price, brand and/or other factors.

REWARDS

I am supposed to receive a check for completing a survey. How do you know where to send the check?
Every survey link you receive is personalized. We are able to locate information with this number such as your name, address and email address information you provided when you joined urban-DNA Panels. Because of this, we do not need to collect your address at the end of the survey. If your address has recently changed, however, please log into your account and access the 'edit profile' section to update your contact information.
I completed a survey that offered a check, but I have not yet received it. When can I expect to receive it?
After you have accrued 5000 points you will have the option of receiving a check or PayPal payment.
Why do you not pay for completion of each survey?
While some companies pay for responses, many researchers believe that paid responses can be different from unpaid responses. For this reason, we try to avoid paid responses. However, we realize your time is valuable, so in cases where the study is complicated or lengthy, we offer incentives for every household completing the survey.