Recruiting Teenage Participants for an Online Security Experiment: A Case Study Using Peachjar

Abstract

The recruitment of teenagers for usable privacy and security research is challenging, but essential. This case study presents our experience using the online flier distribution service Peachjar to recruit minor teenagers for an online security experiment. By distributing fliers to 90 K-12 schools, we recruited a diverse sample of 55 participants at an estimated cost per participant of $43.18. We discuss the benefits and drawbacks of Peachjar, concluding that it can facilitate the recruitment of a geographically diverse sample of teens for online studies, but it requires careful design to protect against spam and may be more expensive than other online methods. We conclude by proposing ways of using Peachjar more effectively.