A Panel is a database of Participants who have opted in to participate in future research studies. There are many ways user research teams utilize panels. In Rally, customers can build 1 or multiple Panels, depending on the plan they are on.

Some organizations, like GitLab use panels for participants who are difficult to recruit.

Types of Panels

There are 2 main types of Panels which our customers have built. Let’s take a look at GitLab for some examples:

Short-term/temporary: For example, the GitLab UX Research Growth team builds Panels of Participants who have used GitLab for less than three months. Since this Panel has a specific time frame as a requirement for Panelists, it becomes obsolete after 3 months. These Panels often require very purposeful recruiting of specific types of users.

Evergreen Panels: For example, GitLab’s research program called FirstLook is their largest, ongoing panel. Participants sign up with an interest in participating in any research at GitLab. Recruiting for evergreen panels can be more broad and less targeted.

Other panel types include panels that are automatically populated, meaning the entire user base is a panel, and panels that are constantly being refreshed and overhauled.

Why build a Panel?

• Quickly access engaged participants who have already opted in to research
• Start creating a community of your users
• Perform research studies that have a longer timeline
• Access users who are difficult to recruit
• Study complex behavior or usage

Panels in Rally

You can build multiple Panels in Rally. Each Panel has the following key sections:

Panelists

• This is your database of Panel members who have either manually been added to the Panel or joined via a Signup Form

New Signups

• This is your list of participants who have signed up for your Panel and are now awaiting approval

Signup Pages

• These are external facing links that include the following components:
  • Welcome Page
  • Screener
  • Consent Form
  • Automated Welcome Email