Get Paid for Academic Research Studies

Become a Subject for Legitimate University Research

This month, I’m getting paid close to $100 just for filling out some personality inventories and wearing a special wristwatch that monitors light exposure and movement. A few months ago, I made a quick $10 by completing a 40-minute questionnaire about sexual behavior. And last year, I earned $25 for playing a strange computer game in a windowless room for several hours and answering a survey about it.

What do these situations have in common? They were all ways to get paid for academic research studies run by professors and graduate students at universities. While I can’t claim that it’s made me rich, participating as a subject in academic research studies has been an easy, socially beneficial, and even fun way to earn a little extra cash in my spare time.

Get Paid for Academic Research Studies: Is this legitimate?

The internet is littered with ads touting how to get paid for online surveys and other spam-happy “market research” run by greedy companies, but few of those opportunities are legitimate. Academic research studies, on the other hand, are designed to help scholars collect the vital data they need for their experimental work, with the money being offered as a way to compensate participants for their time. Instead of scoring a few uncertain bucks so a company can hone its products and advertising, why not assist our country’s nonprofit research institutions so we can learn more about fields like psychology, sociology, and medicine?

Get Paid for Academic Research Studies: How do I find them?

There are many ways to find out about academic research studies that will pay you to participate. From word of mouth to advertisements, you just have to keep your ears open and your eyes peeled. Here are some places to check:

- Craigslist for your community. 

- Bulletin boards. Look for flyers at coffeeshops, grocery stores, and other public spots – especially near university campuses.
- Public Transit. In urban centers, large and well-funded academic research studies may advertise their needs on trains and buses.