In the world of research—whether academic, clinical, or market-based—participant engagement is critical to success. But in recent years, the landscape of research payments has shifted dramatically. It’s no longer enough to offer a one-size-fits-all solution. Participants expect more—and the institutions that recognize this are seeing better recruitment, higher retention, and improved data quality.
Gone are the days when a $25 prepaid card or a mailed check was the gold standard. Today’s participants come from diverse backgrounds and expect the same level of convenience and personalization they get from modern consumer brands. Participant-centered design means:
It’s not just about digital vs. physical anymore. Participants expect to choose:
Next generation platforms like TruCentive are addressing this head-on with multi-select capabilities, empowering participants to split their incentives across different rewards and customize the payout to their preferences. This isn’t just a feature—it’s now a participant expectation.
In an era of digital distractions, high touch communication has emerged as a quiet powerhouse in participant retention. That means:
These touchpoints aren’t just administrative—they’re relationship builders. A simple reminder that says “Your reward is waiting—thanks for being part of this important study” can mean the difference between an unclaimed gift and a long-term participant. High touch doesn’t mean high effort—it means high empathy, powered by automation.
Modern participants expect immediate gratification, and payment delays can damage trust and retention. Research shows that faster, clearer payments:
Systems that offer real-time delivery, payment tracking, and automated communication are becoming the norm, not the exception.
As research studies evolve, so do regulations. Whether it’s HIPAA, GDPR, PCI-DSS, or institutional audit trails, security isn’t negotiable. But participants don’t want to sacrifice ease for safety. The key is to integrate both:
One of the most powerful shifts is the push for inclusive research practices. Flexibility in payments plays a major role in:
By offering real choice, research institutions open the door to broader participation—and ultimately, more equitable and representative results.
Research payments for clinical trial participants varies but typically falls into the following categories:
Monetary Compensation
Further reading:
Flexible Payment Options in Clinical Trials
A design session is the perfect way to show you how TruCentive can help you realize your rewards, gifts, or payout goals in a real-world scenario, building a complete project with everything from your logo, design options, and messaging to incentive selection, deliveries, and reminders.
When we’re done, you’ll:
If you’re ready to start designing on your own, sign up and start sending samples. There’s no credit card required to start exploring your creative side!
Use powerful features to quickly create professional-looking incentive deliveries
With a TruCentive subscription, you get technical support for all your team members so you can get back to your project fast
Eliminate the time and frustration managing the procurement, delivery, and management of your rewards and incentives deliveries
