Overview of the payment arrangement process

ExpiWell allows researchers to configure and manage participant payment arrangements directly within the platform. Below is an overview of the payment arrangement process, including timing, disbursement, and privacy considerations:

Amount and Timing: Researchers set the payment amount for participant activities (e.g., surveys, studies) based on their study design. Payments can be disbursed after a participant completes a specific survey or series of surveys, as defined by the researcher. This information can be obtained from the ExpiWell 'Logs' page, where response rates to surveys can be viewed anonymously. Payment disbursement timing is flexible and determined by the researcher’s schedule, with options for immediate disbursement or periodic batch payments.

Disbursement Method: Payments are typically made through Amazon.com gift cards. Researchers will specify the amount for different participants on the ExpiWell 'Logs' page. This amount will then be sent to participants as Amazon.com gift cards delivered to their email addresses. Researchers add funds to their ExpiWell Finance account by card to cover these payments, and a 20% service fee is added to the funds purchased. Note: The email addresses of participants receiving gift cards are not shared with researchers.

Data Protection: Payment-related data is processed securely, adhering to privacy best practices and relevant legal requirements (e.g., HIPAA, GDPR). Participants' payment details (e.g., email addresses for payment platforms) are stored securely and encrypted to prevent unauthorized access. This is not shared with researchers.

Minimizing Identifiability: Payment disbursement is handled without linking sensitive study data to the participant's payment account, ensuring data confidentiality. ExpiWell supports pseudonymized participant IDs for payment processing, reducing the risk of directly identifying participants.

Transparency: Participants are informed when they receive a payment via the ExpiWell mobile app. It is recommended that researchers provide the specific payment schedule and amount in the consent form or share it during the onboarding process.