Recruiting

What

Identifying and gathering people to interview or who will test your product.

Why

Recruiting people who represent your core user group is a critical and oft-overlooked part of research. Time spent with the right people using the wrong methods is better than time spent with people who aren’t your core users while using the right methods.

How to do it

Seek out people who

Are trying to use the thing you are working on right at that very moment.
Recently tried to use the thing you are working on.
Used the thing you are working on less recently.
Have used something like what you are working on, and are likely to use what you are working on.

Reach them through

Relevant community organizations.
Impromptu requests in or near the relevant environment.
Your personal and professional network.
The new or existing website.
Existing mailing lists.

Considerations for use in government

No PRA implications. No information is collected from members of the public.