“Research Panel” is a service where you can earn points just by answering surveys and exchange the points for cash. Among the many point sites, Research Panel is well-known and has many users, but there are also negative reviews such as “dangerous” and “malicious.”
Therefore, this time, we will introduce how to use such research panels, focusing on the dangers of such research panels and their reputation based on word of mouth.
What is a research panel?
Research Panel is one of the largest survey monitoring sites in Japan operated by Research Panel Co., Ltd. We provide a service where you can earn points by monitoring products and responding to surveys, which can be exchanged for cash, gift certificates, electronic money, etc.
Currently, Research Panel has 1.7 million users (as of March 2021), which is one of the highest among survey monitoring sites in Japan. It is gaining popularity because it allows you to easily earn pocket money while making use of your free time or time at home. Due to the large number of cases, it is said to be a service recommended for beginners to survey monitoring.
The site explains, “Survey responses are used as statistical data that cannot identify individuals and are used for corporate marketing and sales promotion.”
Reference site:
Research Panel [Official]
Are research panels dangerous? How safe is it?
If you search for Research Panel on the Internet, you will also see negative related words such as “dangerous” and “dangerous.”
This means that there are people who feel uneasy about using the site or who think it is a suspicious site. However, in conclusion, Research Panel is a service that you can use with confidence. The reason for this is explained below.
The parent company is a company listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, so you can rest assured.
The parent company of Research Panel Co., Ltd. is CARTA HOLDINGS Co., Ltd., which is listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange and operates the point exchange site EC Navi.
It is also an affiliated company of Cross Marketing Group Co., Ltd., which is also listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
Because these major companies have invested, you can use it safely without worrying about sudden site closures or unauthorized point exchanges.
Due to this credibility, the research panel has been featured in media such as Nippon Television’s “Monday to Night Owl” and “Nikkei Sangyo Shimbun”.
Obtained Privacy Mark
Research Panel has obtained the Privacy Mark.
Privacy Mark is a third-party certification system regarding the handling of personal information established by the Japan Information Economy and Society Promotion Association. Only companies that meet the standards can obtain the Privacy Mark.
To obtain certification, a company must undergo periodic audits and train its employees, so it can be said to be a highly secure company.
Survey sites handle a lot of personal information, so acquiring the Privacy Mark is an important point.
SSL (encryption system) has been introduced
Research Panel uses SSL (encryption system). Simply put, SSL is a mechanism for encrypting communications over the Internet.
In other words, since the personal information handled by the research panel is encrypted, it can be said that security measures are in place to prevent data theft and spoofing.
Please note that the URL of a site encrypted by SSL will be displayed as “http”s”.
Reasons why it is said to be dangerous or malicious
As introduced above, Research Panel is a site that is operated by a major company and has thorough security measures, so you can use it with confidence.
However, although it is safe, there are some operational difficulties, and some parts are said to be dangerous. I looked into opinions that are said to be dangerous or malicious. Possible reasons are:
- Many emails are sent from research panels.
- I don’t get as many survey requests as people say on the internet.
- Differences in the perception of “earning money”
And so on. Another good thing about Research Panel is that there are a lot of surveys, so if you register, you will receive a lot of emails.
As a result, people find it annoying that emails accumulate in their inbox, and they feel distrustful of them.
It may seem contradictory, but there are some people who register expecting to get a lot of questionnaires, which is one of the great things about research panels, but they don’t get any. Since the number of surveys varies depending on the area where you live, age, occupation, etc., it seems that people who do not receive as many requests as expected are considered to be malicious because they think that their reputation is different from their previous reputation.
There are also sites that promote research panels as a way to earn money. If you win a high-priced job, you may be able to earn more than 10,000 yen per month, but if you want to use it easily, you can earn only a few thousand yen per month. If there is a difference in the perception of “earning” or if there are high expectations such as earning tens of thousands of yen, it will lead to negative reactions.
Research panel reputation and reviews
We will introduce both good and bad reviews based on reviews from people who have actually used Research Panel.
good reputation
Some of the positive reviews from the research panel include:
Compared to other sites, Research Panel receives a large number of surveys and has received many reviews that it has a wide variety of surveys.
Therefore, you can use it when you are traveling or have some free time, so you can effectively accumulate points.
Sometimes there are high-priced projects where you can earn more than 500 yen just by answering a survey once, so that is also attractive.
Additionally, some people said that they felt safe using the service because the parent company is listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange and has acquired the Privacy Mark.
The fact that there are no cold calls or service deterioration is also a good point for continuing to use the service.
bad reputation
Some of the negative reviews of research panels include:
While there are a large number of surveys available, many people seem to get tired of receiving so many emails every day. Also, there are often negative reviews that say that you are not making as much money as you expected.
The image of research panels is more like “you can earn some pocket money in your spare time.”
It’s best not to expect too much from earning tens of thousands of yen per month.
As will be explained later, in order to use the research panel, you will need to register on three sites.
It’s not a very time-consuming process, but some people may find it troublesome because it requires a lot of effort to get started.
How to use the research panel
The flow of using the research panel is as follows.
1. Register as a free research panel member
2. Link EC Navi (sister site)
3. Register as a free member of PeX (point exchange site)
4. Use the research panel (accumulate points)
5. Exchange points with PeX
Register for free research panel membership
Access the official website of Research Panel and select “Free Membership Registration” in the upper right corner.
You will be redirected to the email address input screen, so please enter any address (Gmail, mobile carrier, etc.).
An identity verification URL will be sent to the email address you entered. Click the URL to authenticate, and fill in the necessary information to complete your membership registration.
Link EC Navi (sister site)
Next, link the research panel and EC Navi member information. EC Navi is a sister site of Research Panel and one of the largest points sites in Japan.
The points that can be earned through research panels are “EC Navi Points”, and EC Navi registration is required to participate in the survey.
Once you have completed your research panel membership registration, the EC Navi registration screen will be displayed so you can access it. Click “Link member information” to complete.
Register as a free member of PeX (point exchange site)
Finally, access the PeX official website and register as a free member. PeX is one of Japan’s largest point exchange sites, where you can exchange the points you accumulate through research panels for products.
There is a registration screen at the top of the screen, so please enter the necessary information from there. Once registration is complete, a PeX account number will be issued and points will be exchanged through this account.
Please note that only one account can be registered per person.
Use the research panel (accumulate points)
Research Panel has five main types of questionnaires.
Select these surveys and accumulate points.
Exchange points with PeX
Once you have accumulated points on the research panel, log in to PeX and exchange them for whatever you like. Select “Find Exchange” to display a list of products and exchange rates.
The main exchange destinations are as follows.
You can exchange 3,000 points (300 yen) at a rate of 0.1 yen per point.
How to make money efficiently with research panels
To earn money efficiently with research panels, we recommend round-table discussions and home use surveys. We will explain each method.
What is roundtable discussion (group interview)?
A roundtable discussion (group interview) is a research method that gathers multiple research subjects and asks them to discuss freely among themselves, thereby collecting their opinions, opinions, and true feelings.
It is effective as an opportunity to gain insight as it allows users to pick up real opinions and impressions that they themselves were not aware of, and it is also effective as a market research to collect useful information.
Roundtable discussions are typically held in a group format, so things often get heated without you even realizing it, making it easy to pick up on people’s true feelings.
What is Home Use Survey (Product Monitor)?
A home use survey (product monitor) is a research method in which monitors use the actual product for a certain period of time, and a questionnaire is then asked about the usability and comfort of the product.
By having customers point out the good and bad aspects, advantages and disadvantages of a product from various angles, problems may surface later.
Monitor questionnaires are extremely effective as a research method before launching a product in earnest.
Points to note when using the research panel
When using the research panel, please note the following points:
Check the expiration date of points
Points will expire 1 year and 3 months after they were earned. Please be aware that some survey sites allow you to extend the expiry date of your points.
Do not respond appropriately to the questionnaire
If there are many incomplete answers to the questionnaire or if you give inappropriate answers, the number of requests for questionnaires will decrease.
For example, if you enter random characters such as “AAAA” in the written answer, if the registered information and the answer are different, or if there is a contradiction in the answer.
Companies will want to give priority to those who can provide thorough answers, so be sure to answer carefully.
Is there an app?
As of May 2023, there is no separate app for the research panel, but there is an app called Poikatsu EC Navi Survey, which is compatible with both Android and iOS.
If you install this app, you will receive surveys from both EC Navi and Research Panel.
Comparison with other survey monitoring services
There are many survey monitoring services other than Research Panel. Therefore, we have compiled some information for comparison purposes. Please use this as a reference when choosing a service.
macromill
| Service name | Macromill monitor site |
| Overview of operating company |
・Macromill, Inc. (English company name: Macromill, Inc.) ・Listed stock exchange: Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market (Stock code: 3978) ・Capital: 1,090 million yen (year ending June 2022) ・Number of employees: Consolidated: 2,962 people Non-consolidated: 1,185 people (as of the end of June 2022) |
| Date of establishment | January 31, 2000 |
| Number of members | 1.3 million people |
| safety | ・P mark acquired ・Encrypted communication ・Security room installed |
| Type of research | ■Complete on the Web・Web questionnaire・Diary-style questionnaire・Online interview survey ■Other than the Web・Product monitor・Round-table discussion・Venue survey |
| Company characteristics |
Macromill Co., Ltd. has been conducting social contribution activities called “Goodmill” since 2018 based on the belief that we can make the world a better place through research. We are actively working to solve social issues, such as providing active support when disasters occur and providing technical support to non-profit organizations. Part of the points exchanged by members are donated to organizations such as the Japanese Red Cross Society, Japan Committee for UNICEF, Médecins Sans Frontières, and WWF Japan. |
| Service features |
Service features: There is a wide variety of research types, so it is unlikely that you will ever feel like you don’t have any work to do! It seems that you can earn some pocket money by making good use of your free time, such as between housework and childcare, or during breaks from your part-time job. Ease of earning: As you increase your rank, it becomes easier to earn money. Where to exchange points: Amazon gift certificate, dPOINT, PayPay, GPoint, PeX, virtual currency, exchange for cash, exchange for products, exchange for donations (Japanese Red Cross Society, Japan Committee for UNICEF, Médecins Sans Frontières, WWF Japan) etc. Point exchange rate: 1 point 1 yen Cash exchange: possible |
infoQ by GMO
| Service name | infoQ by GMO |
| Overview of operating company |
・GMO Internet Group, Inc. (English name: GMO Internet Group, Inc.) ・Listed stock exchange: Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market (Securities code: 9449) ・Capital: 5 billion yen ・Number of employees: 7,317 people (total number of corporate groups) Employees: 7,317 Temporary employees: 1,112 (as of the end of December 2022) |
| Date of establishment | May 24, 1991 |
| Number of members | 750,000 people |
| safety | ・P mark acquired ・ISMS certification acquired ・Phone number authentication implemented |
| Type of research | ■Complete online / Web survey / Diary survey / Online interview ■Other than the web / Venue survey / Home use test |
| Company characteristics | GMO Internet Group, Inc., whose catchphrase is “Internet for everyone,” has been operating the Internet business since 1995. We have improved our performance in many areas, including the advertising and media business, infrastructure business, and financial business. It is a company that can be called a pioneer in the Internet industry, having actively expanded its Internet business in 1995 when the Internet was still in its infancy. |
| Service features |
Service Features: The types of surveys available are more extensive than other sites, and it has a good reputation as a side job site. The fees are also relatively high; for example, for venue survey monitors, the average price ranges from 2,000 yen to 5,000 yen, whereas for infoQ byGMO, the fees are often set at 3,000 yen to 10,000 yen. Other projects are also set slightly higher than the standard, so it can be said that it is a perfect service to earn money consistently. Ease of earning: Relatively easy to earn Points can be exchanged for: Amazon gift certificates, GMO points, PointTown, .money by Ameba., PeX, GPoints, LINE points, selectable eGifts, GMO Aozora Net Bank, PayPay Bank, SBI Sumishin Net Bank, Japan Post Bank, Rakuten Bank, ChildFundJapan・Cash point exchange rate: 1 point 1 yen Cash exchange: possible |
queue monitor
| Service name | Cuemonitor |
| Overview of operating company |
・INTAGE Inc. (English company name: INTAGE Inc.) ・Listed stock exchange: Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market (Securities code: 4326) ・Capital: 1,681.4 million yen (March 2018) ・Number of employees: 1,170 (as of the end of June 2022) |
| Date of establishment | March 2, 1960 |
| Number of members | 1.5 million people |
| safety | ・P mark acquired ・Quality management system acquired ・Market research service product certification acquired |
| Type of research |
■Complete on the Web/Regular questionnaire/Diary-style questionnaire ■Other than the Web/Shopping survey (Shopping Diary) ・Product test ・Venue questionnaire ・Group interview |
| Company characteristics | It is a long-established company that was founded in 1960 as a social research institute, and will be in its 63rd year as of 2023. We have been doing custom research since our founding, and can be said to be a reliable company with a long history in the marketing research industry. In 1990, we began conducting an Internet survey. |
| Service features |
Service characteristics: There are few projects that can be completed online, and many projects require some time and effort, such as shopping surveys, product tests, venue questionnaires, and group interviews, but on the other hand, the fees are high. The key to earning money is whether you can take the time to do research. Ease of earning: Depends on the project Points can be exchanged for: Amazon gift certificates, giftBox, nanaco points, dPOINT, .money by Ameba., PeX, GPoints, cash, exchange for donations (CW Nicole Afan no Mori Foundation, Japan Guide Dogs Public Interest Incorporated Foundation) Japan Association for UNICEF) Point exchange rate: 1 point 1 yen Cash exchange: possible |
What is a research panel? Explanation of reputation, word of mouth, and safety! summary
Finally, I will summarize what has been covered so far.
- Research Panel is one of the largest survey monitoring sites in Japan.
- The points you can earn from research panels are EC points, and the points you save can be exchanged at PeX.
- EC points can be exchanged starting from 3,000 points (300 yen) and can be exchanged for cash, gift certificates, etc.
- Research Panel’s parent company and affiliated companies are listed on the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, and they have acquired the Privacy Mark and have thorough security measures, so you can use them with confidence.
- Some of the positive reviews of Research Panel include “A large number and variety of questionnaires”, “Useful for making use of your spare time”, “Safe because the operating company is listed on the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange”, “You can cash out right away”, etc.
- Bad reviews include “too many survey emails,” “poor cost performance,” “access is concentrated on the server and stops,” and “personal information, membership registration is difficult.”
- Things to keep in mind when using the research panel are “check the expiry date of points” and “do not respond inappropriately to surveys.”
Research Panel allows you to earn money on a regular basis by effectively using your free time.
If you are interested, why not take this opportunity to get started?