How was I selected to participate?
Probability sampling is used to select people to be a part of the Greater Houston Community Panel. Probability sampling means that each household in Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties had a chance of being selected, and you were randomly chosen. By using this way of selecting people, the responses we get from a few thousand households will help us learn about the opinions, practices, and beliefs of the three-county region’s population.
Do I have to participate?
Your participation is 100% voluntary. In each survey, some questions may require a response, while others may be skipped. You do not have to participate, but your participation is critical and we hope you will let your voice be heard.
What if I don’t like being part of the panel/project?
If you want to give it a try, you are welcome to join now, and if you change your mind later, just let us know, and we’ll remove you from it.
I got my email, but the link is not working. What do I do?
Please email houstonsurvey@rice.edu and describe the problem you are having. A staff member will respond and help.
Is this a scam?
The Greater Houston Community Panel is not a scam. It is a project from the Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University and the University of Texas School of Public Health. Insights from community members have already been used to produce several different research reports, and helped to provide city leaders, local non-profits, and community groups with critical information to guide decisions about programs and resources based on what’s most important to you, your family, and your neighbors.
What are you going to do with my answers?
The answers you choose to provide as part of this project will be used for research purposes only. Examples of research that has been produced using information learned from community members who are part of the panel can be found here.
Who is able to see my answers?
The answers you share as a participant in this project are completely confidential. That means no one will know what you say on the survey – not your boss, not your family, not your neighbors.
Can I tell someone that I’m a part of this project?
Yes! You are welcome to tell your family, friends, and anyone else that you are a part of the Greater Houston Community Panel. You are helping to inform policy and decision making across the Houston region and you should be proud of it. Just be sure when answering our surveys, that we are hearing what you think – your voice is the one we need to hear.
When will I be paid?
One to three days after completing a survey, we will email you with everything you need to claim your reward.
How will I be paid?
You will receive an electronic gift card that is redeemable at over 200 major retailers and restaurants.
If you’ve completed your survey, but have not received an email about how to claim your electronic gift card, please email us at houstonsurvey@rice.edu with your first name, last name, and email address so that we can help resolve the issue.
The email with instructions for getting your electronic gift card may take up to three (3) days to arrive. Sometimes the email with instructions for getting the gift card goes into Spam folders.
If you’ve provided us with valid responses to the survey, we will provide you with an electronic gift card, so if you don’t see the email with your reward, please reach out to us and we’ll make it right.
How do I know if I got the right incentive amount?
Every time you are asked to take a survey, the invitation will tell you the incentive amount. We know your time and insights are valuable and we will do our best to always provide a token of our appreciation to you in the form of an incentive. It is not much, but it is our small way of saying “Thank You!”
If you have questions about your incentive, please email us at houstonsurvey@rice.edu.
Any other questions, please email houstonsurvey@rice.edu.