Client:

Project:
Date:

Usability Testing Recruitment brief

Usability Testing, User Research and User Centred Design

What is a User Recruitment Brief?

The purpose of user research recruitment brief is to ensure you speak to the right people in
the user testing phase. Look back at your ‘user description’ output, especially the market
segmentation section.
Who’s involved?
Ensure the client/internal team has signed off on the user groups for testing prior to sending
out the recruitment brief to the recruiter.
Why us this brief?
To ensure the right people representing the user types
discussed in the user description phase come in for
testing.
How?
Having confirmed the test dates and testing facility, you
can start filling in the details of the user recruitment brief.
Most recruiters will create their own script based on the
criteria in your brief. Make sure you check these before
starting the recruitment.
The brief provides a high level overview of the
recruitment criteria covering:

 Demographics
 Type of respondents i.e. pre/post shoppers,
existing or prospective customers
 Behavioural criteria such as internet and buying behaviour
 Optional: matrix of sample
An invitation stating agreed date and time should be provided to respondents along with a
map and details of venue.

Contact an external recruiter or use internal resource to recruit respondents for the user
testing phase.
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Usability Testing Recruitment Brief Template: Client Name

Research dates:
Sessions: xx sessions (x per day)
Timings: For example 9-5 (9:00, 10:15, 11:30, 1:30, 2:45, 4:00)
Duration: xx minutes
Incentive: $x per person
Venue:

Recruitment sample (where relevant):

 Age
o xx years old and upwards or certain groupings
o Aim for an even spread of ages
 Gender:
o x males and x females
o Aim for an even spread of male vs. female
 Income: Earn between/above/under xx k a year
 Family situation i.e. single, family etc.
 Other criteria examples:
o X respondents/All must have purchased a product in the last 6 months
o X respondents/All or all must be looking to/interested in purchasing x
product in the next 3-6 months
o Consider ratio of existing product/site users vs. non-users

Sometimes a table makes it easier to ensure all the criteria are covered:
Recruitment criteria Male Female [Criteria 1] [Criteria 2] [Criteria 3] TOTAL

Under 18
18 - 25
25 – 50
50+
TOTAL

High level recruitment criteria:

 Exclude groups i.e. students
 All to have purchased any product online in the past
 All to consider researching and applying online for a [product]
 All to be non-rejecters of [CLIENT] brand
 All to be joint or sole financial decision makers
 Online savvy i.e. regular internet users (other than email)
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 Must be able to navigate the internet comfortably on their own