User Research Screener Template: Free Guide + Example

A screener helps you recruit the right participants and avoid noisy data. This template keeps criteria clear and questions concise.

What you'll get:

A copy/paste screener survey template
Example screener questions by category
A checklist and mini example

Use the sections below as building blocks; keep what you need and delete the rest.

After screening, send the UX research consent form template.

References for this guide are listed at the end.

What is a screener survey?

User Interviews defines screener surveys as short questionnaires used before a study to filter out people who do not match your criteria. Nielsen Norman Group describes a screener as questions used to establish fit for a research project.

Why screen participants?

Nielsen Norman Group notes screeners improve relevance, data quality, and save time by avoiding mismatched participants. Lyssna adds that targeted questions help you reach the right people faster.

Screener survey best practices

These practices are consistently recommended across Nielsen Norman Group and User Interviews:

Define inclusion and exclusion criteria before writing questions
Focus on past behaviors instead of predictions
Avoid leading or loaded questions
Avoid yes or no questions when you can use multiple choice
Include at least one open-ended question to screen for articulation
Keep screeners brief (around 10 questions or fewer)
Order questions to eliminate poor fits early
Avoid revealing your study purpose or company
Provide a catchall option like "other" or "none of the above"
Pilot the screener to catch confusing wording

User research screener template (copy/paste)

Use this structure to create a clear screener with simple pass or fail logic.

1. Study summary (short)

Study topic: [general topic only]
Session type: [interview, usability test, diary, etc.]
Duration: [time]
Incentive: [amount and timing]
Location or device: [remote or in-person, device required]

2. Must-have criteria

Behavior requirement: [past behavior]
Tool or product usage: [past usage]
Role or industry: [if required]

3. Disqualifiers

Conflicts: [competitor employees, internal team, etc.]
Incompatible devices or locations
Recent participation in similar studies (optional)

4. Screener questions

Q1. Have you done [relevant behavior] in the past [time period]?

Never (reject)
1-2 times (maybe)
3+ times (accept)

Q2. Which tools or services have you used in the past [time period]? (Select all)

[Tool A]
[Tool B]
[Tool C]
None of the above (reject)

Q3. When was the last time you did [behavior]?

Within the last week
Within the last month
3-6 months ago (maybe)
More than 6 months (reject)

Q4. Open-ended articulation check: Please describe the last time you did [behavior].

Q5. Are you comfortable participating in a [recorded] session?

Yes (continue)
No (reject if recording required)

Example screener question categories

UserTesting provides sample questions by category. Use these as a starting point and adapt to your study.

Category	Example question
B2B role	What is your job title or role?
eCommerce	How often do you shop online for [category]?
Travel	When did you last book travel online?
Technology	What devices do you own or use regularly?
Education	Are you a student, teacher, or administrator?

Lyssna notes you should keep answer choices clear and non-overlapping, and include "other" options when needed.

Recruitment materials to pair with your screener

The DOE UX templates list includes a recruitment screener and recruitment emails as part of a research kit.

Consider preparing:

Recruitment email and reminder
Participant scheduling info
Consent to record form (if applicable)

Analysis checklist

[ ] Confirm inclusion and exclusion criteria are clear
[ ] Review answers for past behaviors, not predictions
[ ] Remove leading or biased phrasing
[ ] Check that questions are ordered to filter early
[ ] Pilot the screener with 1-2 teammates

Mini example (filled in)

Study: Checkout usability test for an ecommerce site
Must-have: Bought clothing online in the last 30 days
Disqualifier: Works in UX or ecommerce for a competitor
Open-ended: Describe the last online purchase you made

FAQ

How long should a screener survey be?

User Interviews recommends keeping screeners brief, around 10 questions or fewer.

What should I screen for first?

User Interviews recommends ordering questions to remove poor fits early, like location or device requirements.

How do I avoid participants gaming the screener?

Nielsen Norman Group recommends avoiding yes or no questions and using past behavior questions to reduce guessing.

References

Related resources

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