10 UX Research Screener Questions You Should Always Include (With Examples)

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader

When conducting UX research, selecting the right participants is crucial. The quality of your insights depends on how well your participants match the target user profile. This is where screener questions come in. They help filter out unsuitable candidates and ensure you gather relevant data from the right people. Including effective screener questions saves time, reduces bias, and improves the overall success of your research.

This post covers 10 essential UX research screener questions you should always include, along with practical examples. These questions will help you identify participants who truly represent your user base and provide valuable feedback.

1. Screener Questions: What is your age range?

Age often influences how users interact with products. Including an age question helps ensure your participants fall within the demographic you want to study. For example:

• Under 18

• 18-24

• 25-34

• 35-44

• 45-54

• 55+

  
  

This question is simple but effective for filtering participants by age group.

2. What is your current occupation?

Knowing participants’ occupations can reveal if they have relevant experience or context for your product. For example, if you’re testing a tool for graphic designers, you want participants who work in design or related fields. Example options:

• Student

• Designer

• Developer

• Manager

• Other (please specify)

  
  

This helps you avoid participants who lack the necessary background.

3. How often do you use [product type]?

Frequency of use matters. Someone who uses a product daily will have different insights than a first-time user. Ask:

• Daily

• Weekly

• Monthly

• Rarely

• Never

  
  

This question helps you select users with the right level of familiarity.

4. Which devices do you use to access [product type]?

Device usage affects user experience. If your product is mobile-first, you want participants who use smartphones or tablets. Example options:

• Desktop computer

• Laptop

• Smartphone

• Tablet

• Other (please specify)

  
  

This question ensures your participants match the device context of your research.

5. Have you used [specific competitor product] before?

Understanding participants’ experience with competitors provides useful context. It can highlight expectations or pain points. Example answers:

• Yes

• No

  
  

If yes, you can follow up with questions about their experience.

6. What is your level of comfort with technology?

This question helps gauge participants’ tech savviness, which can influence how they interact with your product. Use a scale or categories:

• Beginner

• Intermediate

• Advanced

  
  

Selecting participants with the right tech comfort level ensures your findings reflect your target users.

7. Do you have any accessibility needs?

Including this question promotes inclusivity and helps identify users with specific accessibility requirements. Example options:

• Yes (please specify)

• No

  
  

This allows you to recruit participants who can provide feedback on accessibility features.

8. What is your primary goal when using [product type]?

Understanding user goals helps you recruit participants whose objectives align with your product’s purpose. For example:

• Find information quickly

• Complete tasks efficiently

• Explore new features

• Other (please specify)

  
  

This question ensures participants’ motivations match your research focus.

9. How do you usually learn about new products or services?

Knowing how participants discover products can inform your recruitment strategy and provide insights into user behavior. Options might include:

• Social media

• Word of mouth

• Online ads

• Search engines

• Other (please specify)

  
  

This question also helps verify if participants fit your target audience profile.

10. Are you willing to participate in a follow-up interview or usability test?

This question identifies participants open to deeper engagement, which can be valuable for longitudinal studies or detailed feedback sessions. Simple yes/no options work well.

Including these 10 screener questions in your UX research recruitment process will help you find the right participants. Tailor the questions to your specific product and user base, but keep the core focus on demographics, experience, and goals.

Recruiting the right users leads to clearer insights, better product decisions, and ultimately a more user-friendly experience.