> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.dscout.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.dscout.com/recruit-participants/dscout-scout-panel/participant-balance.md).

# Participant balance

To ensure your responses are balanced across major demographics (age, ethnicity, and gender), you can enable participant balance during recruitment.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Note:** This feature is only available when recruiting participants from Dscout's Scout Panel in the United States.
{% endhint %}

With this setting enabled, responses from any of the following segments will be capped at 65% of your total n-size:

| Segment category | Segment breakdown                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| ---------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Age**          | <ul><li>Under 13</li><li>13-17</li><li>18-24</li><li>25-34</li><li>35-44</li><li>45-54</li><li>55-64</li><li>65-74</li><li>75-99</li></ul>                                                                                                                                                      |
| **Ethnicity**    | <ul><li>American Indian or Alaska Native</li><li>Asian</li><li>Black or African American</li><li>Hispanic or Latinx</li><li>Middle Eastern or North African</li><li>Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander</li><li>White</li><li>Prefer to self-identify</li><li>Prefer not to say</li></ul> |
| **Gender**       | <ul><li>Woman</li><li>Man</li><li>Non-binary</li><li>Prefer to self-identify</li><li>Prefer not to say</li></ul>                                                                                                                                                                                |

## Enable participant balance

Participant balance can be enabled when recruiting US-based participants from the Dscout Scout Panel.

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
Navigate to the **Screener** or **Intercept** tab of your study.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Select **Standard targeting** in the left sidebar. The targeting attributes sidebar is displayed.

![](/files/bf1807343dfddde8b665e793d241987c8493d723)
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Click **Settings** in the right sidebar.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Set the **Balance participant demographics** toggle to **ON**.

![](/files/051491f7ec074b9c601bf05c9bb97939852eaf5c)
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
*(Optional, screeners only)* Click **Customize ethnicity balance** to enter custom percentages for each ethnicity segment. No ethnicity will be allowed to exceed its respective percentage of your total n-size when launched.

![](/files/68d2b5cf9518cc1394ed887277401a69a7420eb2)
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

Now, participant balance is enabled for your screener or study. Once launched, no individual segment will be allowed to account for more than 65% (or your custom percentage if enabled on screeners) of your total number of desired responses.


---

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