Q & A Research

I returned to Q&A/Novato to participate in a focus group in November 2015. Q&A still gets my 5-​Star vote! I have not deducted any stars for the late group start-​up nor for somewhat lackluster refreshments. The important thing for me is that they explain studies and compensation accurately; there are no «tricks.» They still pay by check at the end of the focus group. Apparently, other companies mail out checks only after several weeks delay (sometimes «forgetting» to mail them), or give short-​duration gift cards in lieu of cash or check. I’m glad that Q&A hands me a check at the end of the session. Also, we were given adequate rest breaks throughout our 8 ½-​hour day, and a lunch break. The group dealt with an interesting topic and ended a bit ahead of schedule.

I don’t get it, are we starting to out source payment centers in america now too?
Even if EVERYONE involved is within a 30 mile radius of the same zip code as the company host, they seem to prefer doing things the hard way.
8 of us were assigned to a project in Hamilton Landing Location.
5 of us followed through on the terms and conditions of just showing up.
5 of us completed the project as instructed. We are ALL Northern Calif Residents.
So why in the hell would they have to give us the checks more than 3 days from completion? Shouldn’t it be quite literally THE DAY OF COMPLETION???
I don’t get it. What’s the purpose of sending california residents, payment checks more than a week AFTER the project had been completed from a State NO WHERE NEAR the west coast?
Kansas City… I’m not a fan of Alex Smith so having to take things from Kansas already don’t make sense… I’m sure the participants that cooperated in the project was already documented and filed way before the project ended so why couldn’t they just hand over the checks to a corporate location closer to california?
Actually, Why couldn’t they process the payment checks on site at the project location in novato? It’s like having to order mcdonalds in san francisco, but they cook your order all the way in brentwood… Where’s the logic?
Oi vey… At least the check came in at least… but still…
Kansas City to San Francisco… why make things so much more time consuming?

Q & A Research is a market-​research company that conducts focus groups. Unlike many other research companies you sign up with, they don’t send you email surveys. Instead, they invite you to do in-​person focus groups and product tests. This can be slightly annoying, as you often will not qualify for studies that pay pretty well (usually between $ 50 and $ 100 for one to two hours of your time), but when you do, it’s sometimes fun and always worth the ridiculous amount of money you make for basically listening to other people talk.
I almost want to give the Q & A Research in Novato five stars, though, because of how weird and sad and depressing and perfect their physical office is. The first time I was invited to join a focus group at this facility, I didn’t really know where Novato was. I drove north at around seven p.m. The fog was swamping the Golden Gate Bridge, and as I wound through the familiar curves on the 101, I really had no idea what to expect. I got off the freeway at the correct exit, but I missed the tiny ‘80s office complex and ended up in a suburban neighborhood that seemed more like it belonged in Dade County than in Marin County.
When I finally came inside, a few minutes late for my time, I was shocked to see a bunch of people sitting in chairs waiting. I was welcomed by a tired-​looking receptionist, but instead of rushing me to the focus-​group room, she offered me Safeway cookies and told me that I could attend the later focus group instead. So I did. While waiting, I almost got up and left because an old woman sitting in one of the uncomfortable chairs looked so sad. Who was she waiting for? Why had her husband or son or nephew brought her to this weird place? Was the $ 100 he was making worth two hours of productive or relaxing time off this woman’s life?
Anyway, the credit-​card focus group was boring, and I think I annoyed the moderator with how vocal I was. In any case, I earned exactly $ 60 for forty-​five minutes of my time, and as I left, I gladly took the envelope with my name on it and a ten and fifty inside it. I’ve never come back, but I really want to.