FF User Research performing research, scheduling video interviews promising financial compensation
A few months ago, I filled a feedback survey on Firefox, and at the end of the survey it contained an option to check if I was interested in pariticipating in a follow-up study with a researcher from Firefox, and it was promised a financial compesation for my time.
I received an follow-up email today (from fx-researchteam@mozilla.com), talking about the recent survey I took and that I specified that I would like to do a follow-up interview, specifying available dates, interview duration (~60 minutes), and so on. It contained with a survey link from qsurvey.mozilla.com. The survey asked basic personal informations like email, name, gender, nothing too suspicious. Also, they specified they could paypal me $150 as a thanks for my time and feedback.
I saw someone received the same type of email and people claimed it as legit (https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1442740), but the email that sent the survey was a different email (from firefoxresearch@mozilla.com).
All I'm asking is if Mozilla does conduct such interviews, and also pay people for their time... if this is not a scam or something...
Ilungisiwe ngu isahanacleto
All Replies (3)
These paid user research studies have been done in the past & it could be legitimate this time as well. As you can see in this question: https://support.mozilla.org/questions/1233394
Though I do not like that they changed the email address (nice catch btw) & haven't thought of a way to reassure the survey participants they're seeking that this is not a scam. But the research team changing the username part of the email is a Mozilla type move. I can imagine them doing that. Certain Mozilla departments that tend to overthink things or have too much time on their hands do things like change a simple, straightforward sounding email to a slightly better looking one for aesthetic reasons. (If the Research team reads this, I'm sorry if you thought that was harsh but its true.)
Going from firefoxresearch@mozilla.com to fx-researchteam@mozilla.com... seems unnecessary to me.
But can I ask if anyone's name is attached to the email? It should contain a person's name that our staff here can contact to help verify this is a real offer. If not, we can still reach out to the team & we'll recommend that they assign a point person for contact reasons to avoid this in the future. Thanks
Ilungisiwe ngu NoahSUMO
There were no name attached to the email I received. At the end all it contained was "The Firefox User Research Team", but no names were mentioned. Having somebody as a point person for contact in these kind of scenarios would indeed help anyone with doubts like me.
I would say since this is a time based offer to go ahead & respond to it. I wouldn't want you to miss out on it. And ask if you can have at least the name of the researcher who is conducting this study. We can verify if that person really is a Mozilla staff member afterwards. I reached out to Brooke Sykes who is a User Researcher on their team in the meantime.
You can also link them to this thread so they understand why we're double checking who they say they are.
I feel safe with you contacting that email address because it does end in "@mozilla.com" & that is the approved domain for Mozilla staff emails.
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