Diary studies can sometimes span several days or even weeks, depending on what you’re researching. However, we don’t recommend basing incentives on the length of the mission alone. Instead, it’s a good idea to pay on a per-activity and per-entry basis.
Most diary studies offer an incentive between $50 and $200. Use these specific guidelines to determine the right incentive for your mission:
| Mission component | Baseline incentive |
|---|---|
| Every activity | $10 |
| Every additional entry (in a multi-entry activity) | $5 |
So, let’s say your mission has three activities, but the third activity requires two entries. The math for that would look like this:
- Activity 1: $10
- Activity 2: $10
- Activity 3: $15 ($10 for the activity and an additional $5 for the second entry)
- Base mission incentive: $35
When do participants get paid?
Participants generally receive their incentive at the conclusion of the Diary mission. You are not expected to issue partial compensation if a participant doesn't complete the full mission, but you can of course accommodate unusual circumstances at your discretion.
Who is responsible for processing payments?
If you screen with Dscout, we take care of processing payments.
If you build and launch a Dscout screener to find participants for your mission(s), Dscout staff will pay your scouts via PayPal as soon as you close your mission.
If you don't screen with Dscout, you're in charge of paying your participants.
If you do NOT screen with Dscout, you are in charge of paying your participants in whatever way you'd like. Keep in mind that participants expect to be paid soon after you close your mission. You can find the Close Mission button at the bottom of a mission's Setup page.