Four tips to engage low-tech populations 

Editor’s note: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared under the title “How to Adapt Online Research to Support Low-Tech Populations.”

The power of online qualitative research lies not just in its cost savings and flexibility but in its ability to reach participants far and wide – no travel required. But what do you do when your target audience includes those who aren't as experienced using tech or live in areas with limited internet access? Rather than seeing this as a roadblock, you should consider it an opportunity to adapt your approach and ensure that everyone, regardless of their tech comfort level, can have their voices heard.

How to approach low-tech populations to overcome tech barriers

When we talk about low-tech populations, this can include:

  • Older or younger demographics that aren't independently tech-savvy.
  • People in areas where access to devices or reliable internet isn’t a given.
  • Participants who are unfamiliar with technology but still want to contribute.

These groups might not be as knowledgeable about technology, but that doesn’t mean they can’t participate fully in online qualitative research.

Instead of viewing tech limitations as barriers, consider them a chance to fine-tune your research approach. With the right tools and a focus on usability, you can make online research accessible to everyone. Even if participants aren’t using the latest devices or don’t have the strongest Wi-Fi, their insights are just as valuable and it’s essential to find ways to include their perspectives.

The secret to making online research work for low-tech populations lies in adapting your study design to meet them where they are.

Ensuring accessibility and effectiveness: Four tips to curate online studies

1. Offer research participants different ways to share information

As a qualitative researcher, you might lean toward using photos or videos for the depth and rich context they offer. However, these tasks can sometimes be technically challenging for those who aren’t as comfortable with technology or lack a stable internet connection.

To make sure everyone can participate fully, you may want to offer a text-only response option instead of requiring photos or videos. This way, you’ll still gather valuable insights without putting pressure on participants to complete tasks that might be too challenging for them. 

2. Keep activities short and engaging

The end of an activity naturally signals the opportunity to take a break, so keeping activities short prevents participant fatigue. Whether you’re working with younger audiences who may lose focus quickly or older adults who might only have 10-15 minutes to spare, keeping activities brief helps maintain their interest.

Shorter activities also benefit your moderation team, as you’ll get responses sooner and more frequently, allowing them to jump in and probe responses. Our general recommendation is to design activities that take no more than 15 minutes to complete. For low-tech groups, consider reducing this further and aim to keep activities under 10 minutes. 

The time it takes for a participant to complete a task will depend on the task type you select. To make sure your timing is spot on, we suggest you preview things as a participant to see how long they take you to complete. This helps ensure that the time commitment matches what you’ve communicated to your participants and aligns with their expectations.

3. Offer additional time for improved participation

Building on our last tip, you should give participants as much time as possible to complete their activities. Typical online research consists of a forced sequence of activities released daily. While this approach works well for many, it might not suit participants who need more flexibility. 

If participants fall behind, they may feel discouraged and drop out, especially if they encounter tech issues or can’t log in every day due to limited device access or an unstable internet connection. Additionally, this approach doesn’t leave time for the moderator to ask follow-up questions.

To prevent this, consider extending your timeline by budgeting extra days and creating a more flexible activity schedule. By opening all activities at the start of the study, participants can work through them at their own pace. Even with this flexibility, you can still require that activities be completed in a specific order if needed.

It’s essential to plan for how long it will take low-tech participants to complete tasks. They may need more time and allowing for this in your schedule is key to ensuring everyone can participate fully.

4. Prepare your team for success

While we’ve focused on the participant experience so far, it’s just as important to ensure your moderators and research team are comfortable with the technology you’re using. This familiarity is crucial so they can effectively support participants if any issues arise.

We recommend that you have your moderators go through the entire study beforehand to get a feel for the layout and to prepare for potential questions. This way, moderators can better understand what participants might encounter.

It is also important to stay engaged with participants throughout the study. A quick follow-up comment on a response can encourage participants to provide more details, reducing the need for them to redo tasks and face additional tech challenges. If a participant falls behind, you may want to send a direct message to check in and see if they’re experiencing any setbacks.

Gathering diverse insights

Engaging low-tech participants can be incredibly rewarding when done right, and this enhances the experience for both participants and researchers. By taking the time to adapt your approach and provide extra support, you ensure that all voices are included in your research, leading to richer and more diverse insights. In the end, the flexibility and inclusivity you offer can elevate the quality of your findings and strengthen connections with your audience.