A recent TechCrunch article reported that Google is offering $75 in American Express gift checks to participate in a 60-minute usability test of features being developed for Blogger, its blog creation site that competes with WordPress.  Google is looking for participants who are 18 years of age or older, own a Windows PC, are willing to have the session recorded, and of course, will sign a non-disclosure agreement.

Google is actually looking for more specific participants, but the TechCrunch article’s description is enough to pique your interest, yes?  It’s the general description that will have many people saying to themselves, “I’m over 18, use a PC, am willing to comply and could really use $75.”  Enough people will attempt to sign up that Google will then be able to select a representative sample of subjects.

What kinds of subjects might the company be looking for?  Here are some interesting, recent statistics on bloggers from the State of the Blogosphere 2009 report done by Technorati:

• Two-thirds are male.
• 60% are 18-44.
• 75% have college degrees.
• 40% have graduate degrees.
• More than half are married.
• More than half are parents.
• 68% have been blogging for two years or more.
• 86% have been blogging for at least a year.
• 15% of bloggers spend 10 or more hours each week blogging.
• 82% of respondents say that they post photos to their blog.
• 20% of all users have updated their blog or added content from their mobile device.
• 72% of respondents are classified as hobbyists, meaning that they report no income related to blogging.

These statistics already suggest some particular users that should be included.  For instance, naturally the study may target those between 18 and 44 years old, but there should also be participants older than 44.  Perhaps the study should include people who have never blogged before along with those who have been blogging for years.  There could also be both hobbyist and professional bloggers as subjects.  Depending on the features being tested, the study might involve users who update using a cell phone.  The study may even be very targeted and specific, looking at bloggers who spend 10 or more hours each week blogging.

The only way to ensure these populations are represented, though, is by having a preliminary survey.  Sure enough, Google’s includes questions about a volunteer’s gender, age, occupation, location, and how long he or she has been using Blogger, indicating that just because you don’t have to ask your parents’ permission to participate and you use a PC doesn’t mean you’re up $75.