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Before creating your first project, it helps to understand how Research Desk structures work.

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Object hierarchy

Think of it this way: a project is a folder, surveys are the studies inside that folder, sources are the traffic channels feeding each survey, and streams define who can enter through each channel.

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Project lifecycle

  • Scope each project to a single research initiative with a defined end date.
  • Avoid using one project for all surveys indefinitely. A typical project spans 1–2 months of fieldwork.
  • Assign a project manager who is responsible for monitoring fieldwork and reconciliation.

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Survey configuration

Each survey defines:
  • Target country and language
  • Sample size and quota structure
  • Length of interview and incidence rate
  • Device compatibility (desktop, mobile, tablet)
  • Survey entry link to your programming platform
  • Status: Draft, Live, or Complete
Quotas must be defined when creating a survey. Avoid contradictory qualification combinations — for example, requiring a respondent to be unemployed while also specifying a job title — because those combinations can block all traffic.

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Respondent outcomes

When a respondent finishes (or is screened out of) a survey, Research Desk records an outcome. Common categories include: These outcomes drive field monitoring, reconciliation, and billing.

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Calculation types

Research Desk offers three source-level calculation types: Completes, Survey Starts, and Hybrid. The type you choose affects how quotas fill and whether over-fill or under-fill is more likely. See Source Quota Calculation Types.

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Next steps

Creating Projects

Set up your first project.

Creating Surveys

Configure survey targeting and quotas.