Before you begin
Confirm you have:- A Research Desk account — see Account Access
- A programmed survey URL with
[%RDUD%]and redirects configured — see Entry Links and Redirects - Target completes, LOI, incidence, country, and language
- Quota breakdown (even if approximate for soft launch)
Step 1: Create a project
1
Search for duplicates
Use the search bar with All Statuses selected to confirm the project does not already exist.
2
Click New Project
Enter project name, project number (internal reference), project manager, and out-of-field date/time. Adjust timezone if needed.
3
Save
Your project appears in the project list. Assign the correct account if you belong to multiple organizations.
Step 2: Create a survey
1
Click New Survey
Customize the survey name if the project has multiple countries or waves.
2
Enter the survey URL
Must start with
https:// and include [%RDUD%]. Program all four redirect outcomes in your survey platform.3
Enter specs
Set target N, LOI, incidence, country, language, device compatibility, and sell price (client CPI). Mark PII if applicable.
4
Save as Draft
Leave in Draft until redirects are validated.
Step 3: Test redirects
1
Open Test Survey in incognito
Right-click Test Survey and open in an incognito/private window.
2
Complete both paths
Walk through a complete and a terminate path.
3
Confirm end page
Each path should land on the Research Desk confirmation end page.
Step 4: Buy Sample (Internal source)
1
Click Buy Sample
Confirm survey IR and LOI are accurate — incorrect specs affect CPI and may pause traffic.
2
Name the source
Use a descriptive name (US GenPop, Females 18–24, etc.) and set respondent target.
3
Configure qualifications and quotas
Add targeting on the left; set quota targets on the right by N, percentage, or Remaining N.
4
Choose calculation type and pacing
For soft launch, consider Survey Starts on high-IR studies. Set Traffic Controls if you need paced fielding.
Step 5: Soft launch (~10%)
1
Set quotas to ~10% of target
Launch the source to Live (or schedule launch for a future time).
2
Monitor performance indicators
Watch the traffic-light indicator on Projects and Surveys. Yellow or red means IR/LOI/CPI may need adjustment.
3
Review results
Check quota fills, Defender terms, abandons, and over-quotas. Request data cleaning on soft-launch completes if needed.
4
Expand to full launch
Increase quotas and CPI as needed, then scale traffic.
Step 6: Close out
When fieldwork ends:- Set survey status to Complete
- Reconcile completes during the reconciliation window
- Export traffic reports and cost summaries
- Submit data cleaning if needed (up to 3 requests per project)
Where to go next
Best Practices
CPI, quota balancing, and troubleshooting slow traffic.
Troubleshooting
Diagnose abandons, Defender terms, and performance issues.
Glossary
Key terms used across Research Desk.
Contact Support
Live chat, in-app form, or researchdesk.com/support.