Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

The frequently asked questions includes the following information:

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Registration Information

What is the Sawtooth Opinion Panel?

The Sawtooth Opinion Panel is a panel of residents across the State of Idaho who want to express their opinions through a variety of researach studies and get paid for doing so.   

Your participation is always 100% voluntary, and all the information you provide to WLW Research Services will remain confidential. From time to time, you may be offered incentives and rewards for your participation.  

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Profile Questions

What are the types of profile questions that are asked of me?

You are asked a set of basic, relevant profile questions about yourself and your household in order to create a member profile. Companies match their survey needs to your saved profile. Your profile allows us to send qualified surveys your way. The types of information we collect include the following:

  • Demographic Profile - age, gender, ethnicity, location, education, marital status, education, military, political, religion, etc..
  • Household Profile - income level, residense ownership, children at home, types of schools, children’s extracurricular activities, pets, news, civic involvement, repairs, water, vacation, finance, insurance, etc.
  • Shopping Habits Profile - Internet, shopping characteristics, payment type, impulsive vs. planned purchases, warranty, couponer, shopping categories, groceries, grocery stores, clothing preference, clothing store etc.
  • Health Profile - diseases or conditions, medical devices, disabilities, diets, health insurance, health coverage, health services
  • Professional Profile - Employment status, Military, type of company, industry, Company Position, decision maker, # of employees
  • Lifestyle Profile - indoor hobbies, outdoor hobbies, exercise, fitness trackers, vacation, gaming, reading, hot tub, gamble, tobacco user, high-energy drinks, drink alcohol, drive-in expresso, vegetarian, etc. 
  • Professional Profile - Employment status, company type, industry, company size, decision maker, job function, job position, business online, type of customers, etc.
  • Cars and Toys Profile - vehicle types, type of brands, brand perference, type of purchase, vehicle seller, vehicle features, where serviced, type of recreational toys, active users, vacation home, l ownership, next purchase, purchase or lease Preferences, Brand preference, place of repairs, warranty options, insurance options, etc.
  • Household Technology Profile - Broadcast source, access email, cell phone OS, home networking, new devices, older devices, cloud services, etc.

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How do I participate in the Sawtooth Opinion Panel surveys?

As a Sawtooth Opinion Panel member, all you have to do watch for survey invitations sent to your email or you can login to this panel site to view available surveys. You will be  invited to take part in surveys we think you'll be qualified for based on your profile. Each survey invitations includes the topic of the study, approximate length of time to complete the survey, the reward or incentive we are offering, and the URL where you can access the survey online. You are never obligated to participate.

How frequently do I have to participate?

It is completely up to you. There is no minimum number of times you must participate in our surveys, and you can cancel your participation at any time.

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What if I don't have time to participate?

Sometimes Panelists are either too busy to respond to a survey invitation while the survey is 'active' or they do not receive the email invitation until after the survey 'closes.' No problem. If you can't participate, for whatever reason, just ignore the email invitation.

Who do I contact if I have questions or problems?

We'd like to hear from you, and we promise a quick response. If you have questions about the Sawtooth Opinion Panel or a specific survey, you can communicate with WLW Research Services by email, postal mail, or by phone. Visit our Contact page.

How do I 'unsubscribe' from the Sawtooth Opinion Panel?

You can unsubscribe in one of three ways:

  1. Log in and visit the Manage your Membership page. Click on the Unsubscribe/Deactivate button to automatically unsubscribe.
  2. Send an email to our Panelist Services Manager, with the words 'Remove - Sawtooth Opinion Panel' in the body.
  3. Call our number: 1-208-810-4400

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Surveys and Opportunities

I haven't received an email invitation in a while. What's up?

Most likely, there hasn't been a survey that would be appropriate or interesting to you based on the profile you provided when you registered. Or, if you've changed your email address since you joined the Sawtooth Opinion Panel, it is possible that the contact information we have for you is outdated. If you suspect that this is the case, you can easily update your contact information on this site. Go to the Manage your Membership to update your information. Also, ensure that any available profiling surveys are accurate and completed to enhance your chances of receiving appropriate survey invitations.

After I receive an email invitation to take a survey, how long do I have to complete it?

Surveys are usually available on the web for three to seven days. How long the survey is 'active' depends on how many panelists we need input from, panelist eligibility, and how quickly panelists respond.

How long are Sawtooth Opinion Panel surveys?

Every survey is different - some are very short and take only 5 minutes, while others are longer and take 20 to 25 minutes. In the case of longer surveys, WLW Research Services will try to divide them into several 5-10 minute surveys. We typically disclose the approximate survey length in your email invitation so that you can choose when, and if, to participate. We realize that your time is valuable, so longer surveys offer bigger prizes or more chances to win.

If I receive an email invitation, does that mean I'm automatically eligible for the survey?

No. Based on the information you provide when you register, we'll invite you to surveys for which you are likely to be eligible for. Sometimes, however, there are additional 'screening' questions to ensure the Panelists we interview are the correct match for specific surveys (e.g., people who have purchased a computer within the last 6 months). Other needs may include getting a referral for a hard-to-reach target (e.g., moms who have a child age 7-17 and uses a specific medical device).

I tried to take a survey, but was told that I wasn't eligible. What does that mean?

WLW Research Services does its best to invite you to studies you'll be qualified for based on the information you provided when you registered. However, sometimes there are additional 'Screening Questions' to confirm that only a specific, cross-section of people are interviewed.

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Help! Technical Difficulties

I was taking a survey but was interrupted before I finished the survey. Can I continue?

Depending on your browser capabilities, you should easily be able to resume the survey where you left off (assuming the survey is still 'active'). If your browser does not support this functionality, you may have to start the survey from the beginning. To resume the survey, either click on or copy and paste the original URL you used to start the survey into your browser. Be sure to use the same email address to enter the survey that you previously used.

I tried to take a survey and got a 'file not found' error message.

Check to make sure the URL you are using is correct. Depending on your browser capabilities, you should be able to click on the survey URL in your email invitation to begin. You can also copy and paste the URL into your browser. If you choose to type the URL, be sure to type it exactly as it appears in your email invitation (please note that all survey URLs are case sensitive). Additionally, confirm that you are using the same email address where you received your survey invitation to access the survey. Unless specified otherwise, all of our surveys are programmed to work only with the email address to where we sent the survey invitation.

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Other

If my email or mailing address changes, how do I update my profile information?

It's simple! Just go to the Manage your Membership page and enter your new contact information. Fill out the form and then click 'Update.' Your profile information will be immediately updated.

I still have a question!

If we still haven't answered your question, visit the Contact page.

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