Participant FAQ: Your Interview Questions Answered

Get quick answers to common participant questions about Strella’s AI-moderated interviews — covering setup, payment, privacy, and technical issues.

Before you join a Strella interview, it helps to know what to expect. These answers cover everything from how the AI-moderator works and how you’ll get paid, to what languages are supported and what to do if something goes wrong technically.

General Interview Questions

Commonly asked questions about the interview experience.

What is an AI-moderator?

Our AI moderator is an advanced virtual interviewer designed to guide you through the research study. You won’t see a robot or an avatar — think of it like speaking with an intelligent voice assistant. The AI-moderator listens to your responses and may ask follow-up questions based on what you say, creating a natural and interactive interview experience, similar to how it would be taking a human-moderated interview.

How does the call work?

Once you start your interview, Strella’s AI-moderator will guide you through a series of questions, just like a human conversation. Simply answer as naturally as possible. If you’re in a video or voice interview, make sure your microphone and camera (if required) are working properly before you begin.

Do I need to have my video on?

Video requirements are decided by the researcher who created the research study. In some cases, video will be required, but the study instructions will let you know in advance.

Check the study instructions before joining — they’ll tell you upfront whether your camera needs to be on.

Do I need to share my screen?

Screensharing requirements are decided by the researcher who created the research study. In some cases, screensharing will be required, but the study instructions will let you know in advance.

Can you resume calls if you need to leave in the middle of it?

If you lose connection during an interview, or if you need to disconnect for another reason, you will be able to resume the interview. To do so, make sure you re-join the interview from the original link. You do not need to re-register.

Bookmark or save your original interview link before you start, so you can easily return to it if you get disconnected.

How and when will I get paid?

If you participate in a research study that provides an incentive, payments are made in the following ways:

1. Respondent — payments are issued via PayPal.
2. User Interviews — payments are distributed via a choice of dozens of gift cards, which can be redeemed on the User Interviews website.
3. Researcher-recruited — if you were recruited directly by the researcher, payment methods may vary.

Payment timelines vary by research study. Researchers will take the time to review your session and then issue the payment. Payments are typically issued within 3–5 business days after you complete the interview.

How long do I have to complete the interview?

We recommend completing the interview as soon as possible to ensure your spot, as some studies have limited availability. If the deadline is approaching, you may receive a reminder to complete the interview.

Can you change the speed of the moderator's voice during the interview?

Yes — you can change the voice speed during the interview to match your preferred pace of conversation.

Can you change the language the interview is conducted in?

In many cases, yes. Strella supports multiple languages, and you can change the language of the interview while you are confirming the interview setup before the interview begins.

Strella currently supports the following languages:

• Danish
• German
• English
• English (Australia)
• English (United Kingdom)
• English (United States)
• Spanish
• French
• Hindi
• Indonesian
• Italian
• Japanese
• Korean
• Dutch
• Norwegian
• Polish
• Portuguese
• Russian
• Swedish
• Thai
• Turkish
• Ukrainian
• Chinese

What happens with my data?

Your responses are recorded and securely stored for research purposes. The research team analyzing the data follows strict privacy policies, and your personal information will not be shared outside the study without your consent.

Technical Issues

Commonly asked questions about technical aspects of the interview.

What should I do if I can't hear the moderator?

If you cannot hear the moderator, follow these steps:

1. Check your speaker or headphone connection.
2. Make sure your device’s sound settings are turned on.
3. Adjust the volume in your device’s settings.

If the problem persists after checking all three, try refreshing your browser or rejoining the interview from your original link.

What if I experience lags or delays?

A slow internet connection can cause delays. Try switching to a stronger Wi-Fi network or closing other applications that are using bandwidth.

Can I use my phone instead of a computer?

This depends on the type of interview being conducted and the requirements of the researcher. Some Strella interviews are mobile-friendly; however, for the best experience — especially for video interviews — using a laptop or desktop is recommended. It will be stated before the interview begins if a desktop computer with a webcam is required.