Using internal staff

Using your internal team, i.e., people who work at your organization or department, as participants in your research can seem like a great and inexpensive idea, but you should refrain from doing so if they are involved in the design and development of your product. This is because they can bring in unnecessary personal biases that skew your data.

Here are some exceptions where you may use your internal team in your study:

• Your internal team can participate in pilot testing, where you test the flow and functionality of your product. This is only acceptable if these results don’t appear in your final study findings.
• You may also allow your internal team to participate in your study if they represent your target audience.