The internet has become a popular medium for collecting information and opinions from consumers of all backgrounds. You do not have to surf the web too long to see ads from various sites offering cash or rewards for your opinion; although you do have to use some good judgment when choosing your “opportunities”. The reason for the popularity is that online surveys are an effective and efficient way for Market Research companies to gather information from a wide audience of consumers from various professional backgrounds and geographic regions.

While many studies are geared toward a general audience, many specialty studies are cropping up that target people with specific professional backgrounds. While there are panels that cover many careers, the two that seem to be on the rise are Medical and Information Technology research panels. An example of this is GMI, the originator of GlobalTestMarket (a popular online panel for general public). They now have two specialty panels, Techsay for IT professionals and Medometry for medical Professionals, where members can earn cash for contributing feedback for their respective fields. Specialty panels are a win-win situation for both the panel members and the corporate entities that host the studies, and the constant need for more specific studies will continue to increase the number of online paid research panels available for professionals of all backgrounds.