AVG Online Research FAQs

1) What kinds of people can participate in these studies?

Almost anyone! You don’t have to be an AVG user or computer expert to sign up. As long as you own a computer and use the Internet, we’d love to talk with you. We only need you to be at least 18 years old. (You know, for legal reasons.)

2) What will I do in the study?

It depends on the study. No two are exactly the same. It could be as simple as comparing two different software interfaces and letting us know which you like best. Or we could ask you to install a prototype app on your computer, play around with it, and then give us feedback. The only thing we can really guarantee is that you’ll be sharing your screen with us (or us with you), and we’ll be asking you questions about what you see.

3) How long are the studies?

Each study is different, but they generally only last from about 5 minutes to 2 hours.

4) How soon will you contact me for a study?

We need different types of people for different studies, so we’ll only contact you when we need you. It could be next week, next month, or even ten months from now. Exciting, right?

5) Will I be paid for filling out the registration form?

No, filling out the registration form only signs you up for possible participation in our studies. You must complete a study before you can get paid.

6) Do I need a webcam?

In most cases, no. We usually don't need webcams for our studies, so you can participate in your pajamas if you'd like. (We won't know!) If we ever do need to use a webcam, we'll of course let you know before the study takes place.

7) Do I need a microphone?

Yes, our interviews are conducted remotely, so you’ll need a reliable microphone to chat with us. We recommend using a headset for the best results, but feel free to use your computer’s built-in microphone if you’d like.

8) Do I need a fast Internet connection?

You need an Internet connection, but it doesn’t have to be blazing fast. If you can make Skype calls or stream videos, you should be fine. Anything over 8 Mbps will work.

9) Will I be speaking with a real person during the interview?

Yes, we’re real people. And we’re quite friendly.

10) The researchers have an interesting accent. Where are they from?

Our researchers work at our main office in Prague, Czech Republic (now officially called “Czechia”), so the accent you hear is Czech. Pretty cool, huh?

11) What’s the time difference between Prague and New York City?

Prague is six hours ahead of New York. (Yes, we’ll be talking to you from the future!)

12) How will I be paid?

We’ll email you an Amazon gift certificate within 3 business days after you’ve completed the interview. The amount of this gift certificate will be between $10 and $100, depending on the length of your interview.

13) I never received my Amazon gift certificate. What happened?

We’ll email your gift certificate to you within 3 business days after you’ve completed the study. If you don’t see the email in your inbox, please check your spam folder. If you don’t find it there, just email us at onlineresearch@avg.com, and we’ll help sort it out.

14) Where can I participate from?

You can participate from your home, office, or school — basically, from anywhere with a reliable Internet connection. We only ask that you choose someplace quiet to avoid distractions, and that you use your own computer, because we cannot share confidential information with you if you’re using someone else’s computer.

15) Can I participate from an Internet cafe?

Unfortunately, no. We need you to be in a quiet, private place to avoid distractions. Also, we cannot share confidential information with you if you’re using a public computer. The computer you use must be your own.

16) What happens if something unexpected comes up, and I can’t participate at the agreed time?

No hard feelings. If you can’t participate at the agreed time, please let us know ASAP at onlineresearch@avg.com. If possible, we’ll try to reschedule you. If not, we’ll find another person to take your place.

17) If I arrive late or leave early, will I still get paid?

You must complete the entire interview to receive payment. Unfortunately, we can’t shift your interview time at the last minute, because it could conflict with other participants’ times. We also need you to complete the entire interview so we get all the necessary information from you. So it’s important to be on time and to stay for the entire session. If you don’t think this will be possible, please let us know ASAP at onlineresearch@avg.com, and we’ll try to work something out.

18) What happens if I can’t connect with you?

If you’re having trouble connecting to the link we provide you, just email us at onlineresearch@avg.com, and we’ll do our best to help you.

19) What if my email address changes after I’ve signed up?

Please email us at onlineresearch@avg.com to report any changes to your email address. Be sure to include your name and your previous address, so we can update our database accordingly.

20) Will you ever spam me or sell my information to third parties?

Absolutely not! All information you provide is kept confidential in accordance with AVG’s privacy policy. We only use this information to help us find suitable participants for our research studies. We’ll only contact you to invite you to participate in a study, or if we need to clarify any of the information you provided us.

21) I signed up, but I no longer want to participate. How do I opt out?

No worries. You can opt out anytime by emailing us at onlineresearch@avg.com.