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Manual Source (shown as Add Supplier in the UI) lets you field sample from suppliers you contract directly — while still centralizing links, quality checks, monitoring, and reconciliation inside Research Desk.

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When to use manual sources

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What Research Desk provides

Manual sources still route respondents through Research Defender (SEARCH, ACTIVITY, REVIEW) before they enter your survey. You get:
  • Centralized supplier entry links inside the project
  • Consistent fraud and quality screening
  • Traffic monitoring alongside Internal sources
  • Reconciliation and cost reporting in one place
  • Export by supplier for vendor cost confirmation

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Create a manual source

1

Open your survey

Navigate to the Sources tab on a configured survey.
2

Click Add Supplier

Opens the manual source creation flow.
3

Name the source

Use a descriptive name that identifies the supplier and audience (for example, Dynata US GenPop).
4

Configure supplier link

Set the entry link your supplier will use to send respondents into Research Desk.
5

Set redirect URLs

Provide disposition redirect URLs so the supplier receives the correct outcome (complete, terminate, over-quota, security) when respondents exit Research Desk.
6

Set target and pricing

Enter respondent target, buy price (BCPI), and any qualifications or quotas that apply.
7

Launch

Set the source to Live after validating redirects with Test Survey.

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Redirect requirements

Your survey must have working entry links and redirects before launching manual traffic. Suppliers depend on accurate disposition codes to compensate respondents. Test complete and terminate paths in an incognito window before going live. High abandon rates from broken redirects throttle traffic across all source types.

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Monitoring manual traffic

Manual sources appear alongside Internal sources on the Sources tab and in traffic reports. Watch for:
  • Defender terms — pre-survey quality blocks (see Research Defender in Research Desk)
  • Abandons — often broken redirects or survey UX issues
  • Over-quotas — quota cells full but still receiving entrants
Use Performance Indicators and Managing Fieldwork to diagnose issues.

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Reconciliation and billing

Completes from manual sources follow the same reconciliation rules as Internal sources — billable by default unless rejected during the reconciliation window. Export IDs by Supplier during reconciliation to confirm costs with external vendors. Use Export Cost Summary from the project menu for a financial breakdown by source.

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Blending sources

Many projects combine Buy Sample and manual suppliers:
  1. Launch gen pop via Buy Sample as your baseline
  2. Add manual sources for niche segments or specific panels
  3. Set supplier caps to maintain sample diversity
  4. Monitor quota balance across all sources daily