What is a screener for a survey? How to best design them?

Screener surveys are pivotal in ensuring the accuracy and quality of user research by filtering out unsuitable participants and identifying those who fit the intended user persona. These surveys consist of initial questions that assess potential participants based on demographic, behavioral, knowledge, attitude, intent, and qualification criteria. Effective screener surveys should be straightforward, limit the number of questions to avoid participant dropout, favor closed-ended questions for better analysis, and include options for diverse responses to ensure inclusivity. Control questions are essential to verify consistency, and the survey should be tested for accuracy before use. Advanced strategies such as conditional logic and compensation for complex screeners can enhance participant recruitment, while legal and diversity considerations should not be overlooked. Ultimately, screener surveys save time and resources by preventing reliance on erroneous insights that can arise from interviewing the wrong people, thereby safeguarding the integrity of research findings.