Was at Dundee University this morning helping out a student with his PHD. He is on the final leg of 8 years of study and is a really nice chap. He wants to find out how easily people can find the information they are looking for on the internet.
I had to search for info on given sites then rate how easy I found them to navigate etc. Once completed, I had to do it again - same information but different site layout. I now know a little more about the Titanic, Jack the Ripper, San Francisco, Maple Syrup and Jason and the Argonauts. For my time I was given a £10 M&S voucher - food hall here I come!
I once got asked in the street if I would go to the local hotel and do some consumer testing. We had to sniff washing powder and write down how it made us feel, and do some other taste tests. i remember getting some sort of shopping voucher, quite generous amount I think.
I got dragged off New Street for a beer tasting ... which was fine until it turned out to be non-alcoholic lager ... I don't think there was a box marked "eeeuurgh" to tick.
But I got some real beer vouchers to wash away the pain.
OH and I just recently did a survey for the NHS data folks (NatCen Social Research) that was in two parts. First part was health and lifestyle questionnaire and height/weight measuring, second part was more questions and blood pressure and blood testing. We got paid the grand total of..... a £5 Argos voucher.
We were picked because after a flyer through the door we agreed to take part, all questions and tests were done in our own home so it was no big deal for us to do.
My neighbour knew someone who organised surveys and I did ones for Dove, Dulux and an Argentinian wine. I did one for crisps in Australia - we thought we were going to get to eat lots of them but we only got to look at them through a clear plastic bag. I think I got about £30 per time for the UK ones.
To answer two questions: I found out what a "sugar shack" was (maple syrup) and how many tons of soap/tallow they used on the slipway when launching the Titanic. I take part in this research through SiDE (Social inclusion through the digital economy). I'm registered with Dundee University for this and get called in 2/3 times per year.