Glossary
Key terms and definitions for researchers using the Terac platform.
A
Attestation
A verified credential on an expert's profile, such as government ID verification, a verified phone number, or a connected professional account. Attestations are earned once and reused across opportunities.
C
Cost Per Participant (CPI)
The total cost for one approved participant: the participant's incentive plus Terac's platform fee. Sometimes quoted as a single number.
Credits
The currency used to pay for participant work on Terac. Credits are purchased upfront and deducted when submissions are approved.
D
Discussion Guide
A structured script of questions and prompts that the AI moderator follows during interviews. Part of a research guide.
E
Expert
A verified individual in the Terac panel who can participate in opportunities. Also called a panelist.
F
Feasibility
Whether Terac can reach and recruit your target audience within your timeline, and at what cost. Checked before launch via filter match counts, the audience feasibility tool, or a feasibility request for niche audiences.
Filter
A demographic, geographic, or professional criterion that determines which experts can see and apply to an opportunity. Filters are applied before experts see the opportunity.
I
Incentive
The reward a participant receives for completing an opportunity, paid out on approval. The incentive is one part of the cost per participant; Terac's platform fee is the other.
Insight
An AI-generated or manually created finding from interview data. Insights include themes, key quotes, and evidence links.
Internal Panel
Terac's pool of verified experts, sourced and vetted by Terac and matched to your opportunity by your filters and screeners.
M
MFA
Multi-factor authentication. An optional security setting that requires a second form of verification when logging in.
O
Opportunity
A research project posted on Terac with defined criteria, tasks, and compensation that experts can apply to.
Organization
The top-level workspace on Terac. Contains projects, opportunities, team members, billing, and settings.
P
Participant Cap
The maximum number of participants an opportunity will recruit. Recruitment stops when this cap is reached.
Platform Fee
Terac's fee on top of participant payouts, covering sourcing, screening, and platform services.
Project
A container within an organization that groups related opportunities, research guides, and recordings.
Q
Quota
A target number of participants for specific screening answer combinations, used to ensure a balanced sample.
R
RBAC
Role-based access control. The system that determines what each team member can do within an organization.
Redirect URL
Also called a callback URL. The URL a third-party survey or task tool sends a participant back to when they finish, so Terac can record the outcome (completed, screened out, over-quota, or rejected) and review the submission.
Research Guide
A comprehensive document containing a discussion guide, screening policy, stimulus materials, and generated insights. Used to power AI-moderated interviews.
S
Screener
A qualification question asked during the application flow. Can be auto-graded or manually reviewed.
Screening Policy
Rules attached to a research guide that determine whether a participant qualifies based on their interview responses.
SSO
Single sign-on. Allows members to authenticate through an organization's existing identity provider.
Stimulus
Images, videos, or files shown to participants during AI-moderated interviews.
Submission
A participant's end-to-end journey through an opportunity, from application to completion. Tracks state, screening results, task work, and review decisions.
Quick Reference
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Attestation | Verified credential on an expert profile |
| Credits | Prepaid balance for funding opportunities |
| Expert | Verified panelist who participates in opportunities |
| Filter | Hard requirement that controls opportunity visibility |
| Opportunity | A research project experts can apply to |
| Screener | Qualification question in the application flow |
| Submission | A participant's journey through an opportunity |