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Research Information

CouchSurfing is frequently contacted by academic researchers interested in learning from our unique community. Over the years, we've worked with students and professors from a variety of countries on the themes of trust, reciprocity, social networks, tourism, and hospitality within the context of changing societies, virtual communities, and novel ways of traveling.

We're happy to work with academics when their goals align with our mission and are respectful to our members' privacy.

Researcher application

If you're a researcher who wants to study the CouchSurfing community, please note that you must fulfill certain requirements in order to gain access to our statistical data. Before you contact us to submit your project idea, please make sure your project is eligible:

Requirements:

  • Doctorate and post-doctorate level projects only;
  • Project development must not require the use of individual information from our members;
  • Project must be aligned with CouchSurfing's vision;
  • Project must be associated with an academic or non-profit institution.

Eligible? Read on to see how CouchSurfing can help you.


Sharing of quantitative, anonymous data

CouchSurfing can provide anonymous, statistical data related to member activity, connections and profile content. We can also share other anonymous information like amalgamated content from profiles, public and private trust ratings, and activity logs.

What CouchSurfing will never do is share members’ individual data - be it public or private - in its entirety. For more information, please refer to our privacy policy.

Internal survey tool

CouchSurfing offers an internal survey tool which is available only to CS approved researchers. Besides being our preferred method for researchers to contact the community, it is also the only way to reach a representative sample of members.

FAQs

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  1. How can I submit my project proposal to CouchSurfing?
    2. Make sure your project is eligible and that your data needs are compatible with what CouchSurfing is able to offer. Then, on our “Contact Us” page, choose “I’d like to request information,” and then, “I have an academic research proposal.”
  2. How can I get CouchSurfers to take my survey?
    3. If your project is approved by CouchSurfing, you will be able to use our internal survey tool. If not, you may post your survey via the groups, but note that some have gotten negative reactions when using this method. Please remember that there is a thin line between a survey and unwanted spam, and that CouchSurfing may remove a post of this nature if it is considered spamming. If you contact individual members, please do so respectfully and with individual, personalized messages. Copy-paste messages may be flagged as spam.
  3. How do I find interview partners for a case study?
    4. To reach out to members, please contact them individually using a personalized and respectful message. Copy-paste messages or mass group postings may be flagged as spam or removed. Any attempts to interview members outside of this protocol will be treated as an abuse of our system and a breach of our Terms of Use.
  4. Can I have access to members' messages and CouchRequests?
    5. CS will not share text of members' private messages or CouchRequests. This is our policy even when we believe that it is possible to ensure the anonymity of those members. CS may be able to share related numeric data, such as word frequency within the aggregated text of messages between many members.
  5. After I receive my data from CS, what does CS require me to do with my conclusions?
    6. We ask that you provide a summary of your findings so that we can use it to improve the CouchSurfing community and share it with our members or other researchers.


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