Screened Out vs. Disqualified

There are several reasons why you could get screened out from a survey. These include:

• Your information didn’t qualify you to take a survey.
• Your demographics don’t match what that particular survey needs.

Disqualification is slightly different. You may be disqualified from a survey for various reasons, such as:

• You rushed through your responses to the questions.
• You didn't carefully read the instructions or questions.
• Your responses did not relate to what you mentioned in your profile.
• The algorithm on the survey site indicated that you were dishonest.
• Your account was flagged as having been used fraudulently by the site.

Be honest.

Companies put out surveys for research purposes. This is because they want to know what real people think and do on a daily basis. Keep in mind that you are being paid to help these companies. Therefore, you need to be honest and thorough in each survey.

The first thing you should be honest about is your location. Don't make the mistake of claiming to live somewhere else in the hopes of receiving more invitations. The site's algorithm will most likely detect this, and you will be immediately disqualified from taking the survey.

Your personal information is another point in which you must be honest. Algorithms in survey panels compare the details you provide with your profile information. They pay particular attention to this because they are responsible for the security of any personal data you provide them.

Another thing is, you must honestly answer questions related to your activities, such as your job, hobbies, interests, etc. Since companies want to know more about survey takers, they design surveys that focus mainly on what you like to do or what you usually do on a daily basis. They're also looking for the right demographics to answer questions about their product or service, so having reliable information is important for qualifying for the right services.

Keep your profile updated.

It's important to check your profile every few months to ensure it's up to date. If you only update your profile once a year, the information is likely to be old and inaccurate. A lot can change in a year, and you might have details on your profile that no longer match your current interests. You could be automatically disqualified from surveys as a result of this. Make it a point to double-check your profiles every three to four months for accuracy.

Give detailed answers.

After you've progressed past the screener questions, you'll need to be more detailed with your responses. Screener questions are the ones you have to answer before moving on to the main survey. The answers to these questions will decide whether or not you progress to the next stage in the survey. This way you will not only avoid being disqualified but also receive more invites.