Last night, Twitch sent out invites to their ‘new’ Twitch User Research Community. This is the second big wave of invites they’ve sent out, after the first one around December 10th, 2019. This research community is DIFFERENT than Twitch’s existing Research Power Group (aka Twitch RPG), which offers Bits rewards in exchange for occasional surveys. The Twitch User Research Community is actually operated by the Marketing Systems Group, but under contract to Twitch.
On Twitter, I’ve seen a lot of people questioning if the email is legit. That sentiment is echoed when clicking on the link leads to ‘twitchresearch.arcsportal.com’, rather than a Twitch.tv link directly. However, I can confirm that this is authentic and it safe for users to sign up for if you’re interested. When you sign up, you’ll be asked a series of questions that help them qualify users. I’ve included some screenshots below that will show you exactly what you can expect.
In exchange for being part of the Twitch User Research Community, you will earn points that can be exchanged for Amazon gift cards. Right now, you will earn 20 points after you complete the signup process. Every 50 points you earn can be redeemed for a $5 Amazon gift card currently, but they do state that VISA Gift Cards may be available. It’s uncertain how many points you earn for each survey or 1-on-1 interview you take part in.
The Signup Process for Twitch User Research Community
After you agree to the terms and conditions, you will be asked a series of qualifying questions including:
- Your Native Language
- Your Gender (Male/Female/Third Gender/Non-Binary/Prefer not to Answer/Prefer to Self Describe)
- Your Birth Month
- Your Birth Year
- Your Country of Residence
- Your Status on Twitch (Partner, Affiliate, Employee, Family Member is an Employee or None of the Above)
- Your Work (or household members work) by Category
- The Type of Gamer you are (Non-Gamer, Casual Gamer, Core/Mid-Core Gamer, Hardcore Gamer)
- A Sentiment Chart based on how much you agree or disagree with gaming and gaming communities.
- How much you use different websites/streaming services (ranging from never to multiple-times-a-day).
- The Kind of Content you would be Interested in Watching (A LOT of non-gaming options such as cartoon marathons, dancing, cooking, standup comedy, etc.)
- Finally, you’re asked about the ways in which you’re willing to participate. Options include Remote Studies, In-Lab Studies (San Fran), Surveys, Beta Tests, Direct Talks with Twitch staff.
After you complete the survey, you’re brought to a rather bland landing page and your profile is complete. This main dashboard is where you will find Available Surveys, Upcoming Schedules, your Rewards Points (and redemption options) and your profile.
What’s next?
At this point, it’s a matter of wait and see! How many opportunities will there be to offer feedback? How many 1-on-1’s? How much will this group impact the platform? Time will tell. Ultimately, it’s a good thing. Listening to the community will help them make better decisions on the future of the platform because that’s what sets Twitch apart from other platforms – community. We’ll update whenever we know more!
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