Panelist
Get to know this occupation
Other denominations
Consumer panel member.
Description
Panelists work with consulting firms on market or product studies, testing products or services (e.g. customer service, hotel services, etc.) and answering questions, either in writing or in orally, about the service received or product tested. Generally they form part of a group of people known as the "panel", all of whose opinions are gathered during a single study. They may also belong to a fixed consumer panel, established by the Government or by private companies.
Tasks
- Candidates are required to travel to the location of product consumption or service testing.
- Actions vary depending on whether the candidate has knowledge of the survey content or not. If the candidate has prior knowledge of content:
Read the survey and ask any questions.
Memorise any aspects that must be kept in mind during the testing or observation.
Where necessary, travel to the location where the testing is being carried out or the service is required.
Test or receive the service.
Write down your opinion on the aspects being tested in the relevant section of the survey.
Hand in the survey to the person running the study. - Where the candidate does not have prior knowledge of the test or tasting session:
Travel to the location where the panel is to be held.
Listen carefully to the instructions given by the person in charge of the test and ask any questions.
Test or taste the product.
Complete the questionnaire and hand it in to the person running the study, or give your opinion following the test or tasting session (in writing or orally).
Opinions are sometimes collected by means of a video recording, to be later analysed by the company contracting the service.
