Methods Bites

Blog of the MZES Social Science Data Lab

Survey Recruitment on LinkedIn: A Step-by-Step Guide to Targeted Outreach

2026-03-25 31 min read tutorials [Zaza Zindel Lisa de Vries]

LinkedIn’s professional user base and precise targeting capabilities present social science researchers with a valuable opportunity to recruit survey participants from highly specific populations, particularly those relevant to research on employment and industry dynamics. While platforms such as Facebook and Instagram are commonly used for recruitment of survey participants, LinkedIn’s potential in survey participant recruitment remains underutilized. Its professional focus, career-centric context, and only minimal off-topic content make it ideal for reaching the potential labor force population. This is particularly relevant for studies requiring insights from specific industries, occupations, or education levels. In this Methods Bites Tutorial, Dr. Zaza Zindel (German Centre for Integration and Migration Research (DeZIM)) and Dr. Lisa de Vries (FernUniversität in Hagen) provide a step-by-step guide on how to use LinkedIn ads to recruit participants for survey research. Continue reading

Using TikTok ads for survey recruitment: a step-by-step approach

TikTok’s rapid growth and diverse user base present social science researchers with a unique opportunity to study a large and varied population, gaining valuable insights into their attitudes and behaviors. Unlike platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, TikTok’s potential in survey recruitment has been relatively underexplored. The platform’s cost-effective reach and detailed targeting parameters make it particularly appealing for reaching traditionally hard-to-reach or rare populations. Furthermore, with its video-centric format and predominantly young user base, TikTok provides a means to engage and attract respondents from younger generations to participate in online surveys. In this Methods Bites Tutorial, Zaza Zindel and Simon Lütkewitte (Bielefeld University) provide a step-by-step guide on how to use TikTok ads for survey recruitment. Continue reading