Participants need to know how to get to the place where the research will happen. This page has examples of directions for participants about how to get to the research destination.
Unclear information about where to go for a research project can cause anxiety and sometimes results in people dropping out of research projects.
Top 5 tips for giving directions to a lab or research space:
- Provide the address clearly. Make sure you give participants the address and post-code for your meeting point - make it explicit if this is different from your office or department address which participants might have seen in your email signature, on consent forms or from visiting you previously
- Include a clear map. Send participants an easy to read map with routes marked from important nearby landmarks (e.g., car-parking options, train stations or bus stops) and the final destination
- Include photos. Photos give people confidence they're in the right place and help prepare people for a new experience. Include photos of relevant landmarks, for example, what the outside of the building looks like, the car park or bus stop to use, the waiting area and any staff that might be there and the room(s) the research will take place in
- Give the correct phone number. Share a phone number that participants can use to contact you if they need directions or have questions - make sure they have a number to reach you on the day of their visit, for instance, if you will be away from your desk phone give them the number for your research space or purchase a lab mobile for this purpose
- Offer to send more information. Everyone has different needs so make sure you include an offer to send people any other information they might need to have a successful visit to all of your participants.