Another option in the focus group game. Register here and mention my name and we will both be entered to win a gift card! (http://www.focuscope.com/get-paid-for-your-opinion/) The breakdown: Signing up for studies: Online then a phone screen to see if you qualify Length of studies v. $$: Awesome at least $75/hr Parking: Not reimbursed and very pricey in the area Public Transport: Abundant - Red Line to Grand, State St. busses Refreshments: Water & coffee read more

They have very poor communication they will confirm you, have you come to the location and then say you are not needed. Don't waste your time read more

Excellent company for market research projects and participating in Studies. They are a quality company and values their participants

So after reading all these Yelp reviews from the standpoint of the participants in focus groups, I thought I would write one from my perspective- from behind the one way glass. Yep. I'm the client. That's right. While all of you are sitting there at the table discussing food or wine or clothes or whatever the topic is that day, I, as the client am sitting behind the glass at Focuscope listening to what you have to say, noshing on whatever food they have back there for us and trying to make sense of all of your opinions. While it hasn't happened yet- I fully expect to look up from my computer one day and say "Hey, I know that person!!" (good for you as I would probably ask to have you removed from the groups, so they would pay you for nothing!) This facility is clean, feeds the participants (many don't) has excellent screening capabilities to ensure that just the people I want to hear from are in the room, and make the long process of qualitative research a little less painful. They also will go the extra step to ensure "hard to reach" groups show up by actually going out and picking them up at their homes. Behind the glass- while they have thought of most things, like when the door opens to the outer room, the lights immediately go off so participants can't see us behind the glass, they have easy to access Internet, there are plenty of outlets and we have the ability to control our own heat and air conditioning (it gets really stuffy back there), there are a couple of things that they could do to make it perfect. First- there needs to be some kind of light, any kind of light in the back room. Most places will put mini track lights on the tables or illuminate the steps, but in here it is pitch black. And secondly, I wish they would put the snacks for participants in the main room. The last groups I watched here spent a considerable amount of time out of the room making a sandwich or getting a beverage, and that is time when they are not talking. Research is not the favorite part of my job. But when I get to do it in Chicago (yay!) it is a win to begin with. And when my assistant says it's Focuscope we're heading to, it's even better. Because I know I can count on the right people to be in my groups, and all the little hassles that take away from the learnings we are trying to garner have been eliminated. Careful Yelpers! The next focus group you attend, may just have me in the back room listening to all you have to say. Hmm . . . .here's an idea . . .maybe I could just get your opinion for free at the next Yelp event! read more

A waste of time... After I answered questions that would determine my eligibility for a study, Jackie called and made it seem like I was selected. She confirmed my availability and provided all the details, instead of making it clear that she needed to ask me more questions to determine eligibility. Afterwards, she advised that I was not selected. Please be upfront and stop wasting people's time. read more

Nice facility. Complimentary beverages (no, not alcohol you big lush). Good, up-to-date magazine selection. But best of all, they overbook their focus groups so you just may end up walking out without participating but still receiving your cash incentive! Walk in and walk out 10 minutes later, $100 richer. Nope, didn't happen to me ;) http://www.focuscope.com/joinDB.htm read more

Filled out an online survey to see if I qualified followed by a phone call that lasted 20/30 minutes with many more detailed questions. Was told someone would get back to me if I was invited to attend. Called back with details and invite . Called back again to tell me study was already full and I was dis-invited. Quite annoying and will avoid this company in the future. Seems they are getting all the info they need online and on phone without compensating people for their time. read more

I had an okay experience here before, that is why I give it two stars. However, my experience this time around was awful. They qualified me for a two part focus group that include a homework assignment and a 2 hour focus group. The homework assignment was supposed to be emailed to us on 9/13 and I was looking out for it all day- never received it. I received a call from a lady named Jen who asked me if I received it and I told her that I had not and that it was not in my spam box. She checked my account and said that THEY put down the incorrect email because they put down another participants email as mine. She said she would correct this that day and I would receive access to the homework assignment. It never came... so I called her the next day and left a voicemail. I also sent an email to them and to ahaconversations. Never received an email or a call back. Tried calling again, no answer. At that point, I assumed they were no longer doing the homework portion and I stopped calling since they weren't responding. The day before the 2 hour focus group, I receive a call from Jen to confirm that I would be attending. I returned her call and got the voicemail again, so I left her a voicemail letting her know I would be there. Again, I assumed everything was fine since they called to confirm and never responded to my previous calls or emails. I took the day off of work, drove all the way downtown from a suburb, paid for expensive downtown parking and entered the focuscope suite. All of this for them to tell me that they're not going to use me for the survey because I didn't complete the homework assignment! So they sent me home with less than half of what was promised to me. On top of that, I paid $22 for parking just to be there since they promised much more than what they gave me. The lady who gave me the incentive said "I'm sorry, but thank you for being so nice about it," because they knew it was completely unfair. I would have never accepted the study had it been for the amount I left with because it was not worth the inconvenience of taking off of work, driving downtown, and finding & paying for parking. I wasn't going to argue with them in front of other participants because I'm just not that kind of person, so of course I was nice. I saw someone arguing with them once before so I guess this sort of thing happens often. All I can say is beware. read more

I saw a recent review of this place and it got me to thinking, "Damn, it has been a while since they have called me for a focus group!" I had a span of about four months where I did three focus groups and got paid some easy cash for just spouting off my thoughts and opinions. They have called me several times for groups but I unfortunately didn't qualify. :-( You really can't go wrong. Go register at their website and they will call you with some screening questions. If you qualify, they will bring you in for a focus group that will last 1 - 2 hours. It really is easy money. read more

Pennies from Heaven or did I see a 100 dollar bill just fell from a big tree. Focus scope invited me for an interesting consumer study and I was pampered by recieving gourmet potato chips , jimmy john sandwiches, and a can of coca cola. The lady at the front desk called my name and I was paid 100.00 dollars and won another 100 dollar raffle. read more

I'm an opinionated gal. Most of the time, I have these opinions for free. So when someone offers to pay me cold hard cash for said opinions? Sign me up. I had a focus group here this morning. It was the first time I had worked with this particular research firm, and I was very pleased. I went through the typical screening process, and everyone I talked to during that process was nice. When I arrived this morning, the people working there were really cool. The facility is very nice - AMAZING view from the waiting room. Free refreshments, comfortable seating, etc. - which is good if you're there for a long time (mine was two hours). The woman running the show was nice, and she was really good at reeling in the one woman who liked to hear herself talk about irrelevant things (there's always one...). Overall our group was actually really fun and interactive. We got to be creative and create our own ads for the subject, which was a lot of fun. Overall, easy money and I can't wait til they call me again! read more

Focuscope will send you emails to see if you qualify for a survey and then will follow up with a phone call if you do. Sometimes they will just call you last minute when they need a certain gender/age group to fill in their numbers. Most focus groups seem to pay approx. $100 and will sometimes include food/drink. Definitely worth signing up for, although you may go months without hearing from them, or they may offer dates/times/locations that don't fit your schedule. read more

I'm surprised to see negative comments. I have been contacted at least a half a dozen times and it has always gone so smooth. I get the emails and either qualify or not, if I go the next step they call me and I answer the questions within minutes. I have been a part and approved for two studies and both were so organized and I was compensated for my time so quickly. 5 stars for sure. read more

Wait, someone wants to pay me money to talk about what I think? I just finished up my first ever focus group and enjoyed my experience. Their sign up process is pretty simple (I also registered on their website). First they call you to do an initial phone screening and if you pass that, they invite you downtown for a few hours with unlimited pop and chocolate. The setup was simple and easy to understand, and their chairs were super comfy (which is good for a 2 hour session). I highly recommend and hope I qualify again soon. read more

I was lucky enough to get into the world of focus groups when I was a kid, so I've always been pretty aware of the fact that somebody somewhere wants to pay you a nice chunk of cash to tell them what you think. So naturally, when I randomly stumbled upon the Focuscope website a few years ago, I had to sign myself up! Their screening process is really simple and hassle-free. They send out emails about upcoming surveys with a little pre-screening quiz to see if you're a good candidate to qualify for a group. You just fill it out, send it back, and they'll call you if you're a good fit. If you make the cut, you get to go to their swanky office and drink all the free pop you want while you wait. But don't worry; you won't have to wait very long at all. I've participated in a few of their focus groups before, and they keep everything running right on schedule. I've always had a great experience there. The staff is very kind, energetic and fun to interact with during the studies. My advice would be to go sign yourself up in their database! (Because how many opportunities do you really get in life to make $100 for talking about gum for a half an hour??) read more

seems like they get lots of personal info from you that they use or sell without ever hiring you. really not comfortable handing them all my personal info even if paid however most of the time they get it for free. read more

Go to focuscope.com and sign up to do focus groups - make a little extra money. Also an Oak Park office at Lake near Harlem. They ask for your review of different products based on your demographics, and pay you cash. They told me once they look for people of various professions, but healthcare workers, lawyers and real estate agents are in particular demand. You can be of a totally different profession and still get called - parents often invited to review kids' things. Nice people. read more

I love to give my opinion. What I love even more is getting paid for my opinion! Focuscope is easy money. I've done a couple of focus groups with Focuscope and I have loved my experiences. read more

EDIT: Minutes after I wrote my original review (below), I received a call from a gentleman at Focusscope, I won't get into the entire conversation, but he sympathized with my situation, & sent me a $100 check the next day! ================================================= UNPROFESSIONAL! The right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing in this place. I had good experiences at this place (in the past) up until the last research project I did for them. They called me in September for a project that goes way almost into December. We all know things happen & a time commitment that lengthy is going to come with unforeseen obstacles. They wanted me to test some razors & I was to come back twice with my 'homework' & fill out a questionnaire (in the office) which asked other detailed questions about the product. So I showed up to the 1st visit (3 weeks after the initial pickup of the razor & log sheet) & complied with everything they asked me to do, while I was there some guy (who claimed he was a college professor) totally SNAPPED on the receptionist & asked to be taken out of their database, & I thought he was crazy until today: now when they called me (for the 30 millionth time) & asked me if I wanted to participate, when they told me the dates, I told them I wouldn't be able to do it. I was then assured that on the later dates at the end of November if I wasn't able to show up on the specified dates they would work with me, & arrange a time that I could return the product, he then went & cleared it with a 'supervisor', so after that I had no worries. So now after I complied with everything they asked me to do up until the LAST drop off date... It was time for me to bring my questionnaire & razor back last Monday, I sent them e-mails the week before, informing them that I was out of town & I would not be returning until the following week. No response from them until the day of; I got an e-mail the day before, but it wasn't a response, it was a 'confirmation' e-mail that was sent as if they didn't receive the previous email I sent. I explained to 3 different people my situation, because the right hand didn't have a clue what the left was doing... I was told simply to call when I was back in town & everything would happen as it should. Anyhow, now that I'm back in town & ready to return the materials & get my check, I call & they tell me that the 'study is over' & they 'can't pay me' then the woman has the nerve to ask me what time I'm bringing the razor back... I hung up the phone in her face! read more

They're great! They call me at least once a week and although I haven't qualified for a study in a while, they keep calling! When I did qualify, it was easy money! Sign up and spout off your opinions! read more

I've done a couple of studies over the past few years for this company. Not only are they extremely polite, professional, and do not waste time screening you, they are exemplary in rectifying problems on the client end or a clerical one on theirs. Registering is a must - their studies are fun, illuminating, and pays wells too! read more

I've done quite a few groups with Focuscope in the last few years. It's fun and who couldn't do with some extra cash for an hour or two of your time just to talk about you and what buy and like! It's even better when you get down there and they tell you that they have more people than they need and they give you the cash and you get to leave right then! That happened to me less than a month ago and they tell you that you will be put back in their database and to tell any company who calls you that you have not done a focus group in the last 6 months. I was back there again about 3 weeks later, this time I stayed for the group. But that was the easiest $200 I had made in a long time! You have to register with them (preferably on line) and then they will call you to see if you are available and interested in a group, then you have to be screened to see if you qualify. Sometimes you don't qualify but then there are the times you do and you can get walk out of there with cash for the weekend! read more

I was in their database, it has been quite a while since I've participated in a group session, but it was a pleasure. They have always been very professional with me and I would recommend them to anyone! read more

I have been contacted by Focuscope literally a hundred times, and asked to submit screening answers to see if I am right for one of their focus groups. Oddly though, I have NEVER been "a good fit" for a paid focus group. Focuscope, however, has gleaned massive amounts of information from these "screening surveys". I wonder if this is mostly just a tactic they use to get information without actually having to pay anyone for their opinions. I think all the good reviews are written by the company itself. read more