If Google is NOT accepting additional applications for "Answer
Researchers" due to overwhelming responses, then why are there a large
percentage of the questions still unanswered?


"Because of an overwhelming response by qualified candidates, we are
temporarily not accepting additional applications. Please check back
with us again, as we likely will begin accepting applications again in
the near future." - link "Answers FAQ", section "Google Answer
Researchers", question #5


Also, if more people need to sign up to help out, how do I?

Hi Category7~

This is an interesting question that we Google Answer Researchers have
discussed at great length. Here are the main reasons questions go
unanswered, from our perspective:


* The question is priced too low. Sometimes customers think the answer
will be easy to find, and price the question at a low price. Or,
perhaps they just aren't willing to pay much for the answer. Given
that Google Answer Researcher's *only* receive a percentage of the
question price (and nothing else, except perhaps a tip), we have to
consider whether the time spent researching the question makes sense
with the price being offered. Sometimes a Researcher will work for
mere pennies, just because they have personal curiosity about the
question, but more often than not, questions that are underpriced go
unanswered.

* The question is unanswerable, or nearly so. Sometimes the answer the
customer is looking for just isn't out there. For example, there may
not be any research about how many copies of the Bible in the King
James version there is in the state of Oregon :) Questions that ask
for "all" of something are also impossible to answer.

* The question has already been answered by commentators. If someone
(even someone who's not a Google Answers Researcher) answers a
question in the comments section, the Researchers are out of
luck--unless they can manage to add information that clearly provides
a better answer.

* The question is vague, or worded in a way that prompts questions
from the Researcher. In this case, Researchers may ask for
clarification, if they're interested in the question, but sometimes
even clarifications don't clear things up.

* The way a question is phrased indicates the customer wants a
particular answer, which the Researcher can't provide because the
supposition is incorrect.


As for information about becoming a Researcher, keep checking the FAQ
page; when Google Answers is ready to hire again, I'm sure they will
update that information.

I hope this helps!

Kriswrite

Question were answered but from a perspective view. Perhaps this is
all the information available to the Researcher from Google.
Nevertheless, answer was complete, good content, and addressed many
areas.

Thanks

Me?

I keep hoping to become a Researcher but I always get the same response:

'Sorry, but you are too young.'

Maybe some day?

I would respond to that, but you are too young!!!

Quality comments over a period of time, long enough for fellow
commenters to become familiar with your field [ of expertise???] and
even to "crop" your nickname, and maybe learn your real name [ Hi
Bryan} may prompt the GA bosses to invite you to become a researcher.

To add to the answer, I can see the logic behind keeping the
researchers limited.  First of all to hire more researchers would
dilute the availability of questions for the current researchers.  It
is hard enough for the researchers to find questions to answer and
make any money.

I think a better method is to more closely monitor the amount and
frequency of questions answered.  I frequently come across researchers
who have not answered a question in over a year and are frankly using
up space.  If a researcher has not answered a question for a certain
period of time or has accumulated a bad rating over a period of time
that is a good reason to drop them.  That is another good reason to
limited the researchers to a managable number.

Probono, that sounds like age discrimination.  In light of that
response I have no chance.

Bowler-ga

Personally, I don't think GA needs more Researchers. I think GA needs
*better* Researchers.

I wish some of the deadwood (such as the long-inactive GARs, the GARs
who give barely-adequate answers just for the money, and the GARs who
undercut the efforts of their colleagues) would be jettisoned so that
people like Bowler and Probonopublico could come onboard.

If I had a vote on the matter, Bowler and Probo would be in like Flynn.

But I don't have a vote, because I am too young. :-D

~Pink

Wow! ... that Pink ... She has such GOOD taste.