An Online panel is a group of selected research participants who have agreed to provide information at specified intervals over an extended period of time. A panel can be distinguished from a database in the following ways: Its members are asked to provide additional information about themselves and their household, such as demographics, ownership and lifestyle information an ongoing relationship exists with the panel brand there is often a systematic reward mechanism unique to the panel the members do not receive direct marketing messages as a result of their membership. Online panels could be for B2C or B2B. In B2B panels, a selective group of panelists will be involved like "retail owners panel" which would have retail owners as panel members. See also Computer-assisted telephone interviewing Computer-assisted personal interviewing Automated computer telephone interviewing Official statistics Bureau of Labor Statistics Questionnaires Questionnaire construction Paid survey Data Mining NIPO Software DIY research SPSS References Survey methodology