Empathy Lab Respondent Residual Program

Introduction

At Empathy Lab, we deeply value the voices and experiences of our research respondents. The Respondent Residual Program is our way of recognizing and compensating participants when their demographic or survey response data contributes to a paid research effort.

This program is still in development, and we are committed to ensuring it is fair, transparent, and meaningful.

How We Envision it Working

  • When a paid research project uses respondent data, a percentage of the net proceeds will be allocated back to the respondent pool.

  • Eligibility will be determined on a study-by-study basis, and respondents will be notified if their data is included in a paid project.

  • Payments will be distributed to contributing respondents on a quarterly/annual basis or as soon as possible after the project is completed.

Eligibility

  • Any respondent who participates in an Empathy Lab research study and provides demographic or qualitative data may be eligible.

  • Not all studies will be part of the Respondent Residual Program—only those that generate paid research revenue.

  • Participation in the program is automatic for eligible respondents; no separate sign-up is required.

Payment Structure

  • A percentage of net proceeds from each paid research project will be set aside for respondent compensation.

  • The percentage will vary based on project scope but will typically range from 2% to 10%.

  • Payment amounts will depend on:

    • The total revenue from the research project.

    • The number of eligible respondents who contributed.

  • Payments will be made through Stripe

Important Terms

By participating in Empathy Lab research, respondents agree to the following:

  • Empathy Lab reserves the right to modify or discontinue the program at any time.

  • Respondents must provide accurate payment details to receive funds.

  • Payments may be subject to taxes and fees, and recipients are responsible for reporting income as required by law.

  • Participation in Empathy Lab research does not guarantee compensation—only projects under this program will qualify.

Next Steps

As we continue to refine the Respondent Residual Program, we’ll provide updates and more details. If you have questions, suggestions, or concerns, reach out to Shelton Davis at shelton@empathylab.io.