Hi, Deb - Merchandise may be very acceptable to a lot of your participants.
Why not ask them their preference for "gift cards" from merchants like
grocery chain, Target, Walmart, Rite-Aid (or your equivalent of large
drug-sundries store), etc. as well as a few local merchants and have them
check a box when they sign up for the study and do their consent form.
Everyone has to buy groceries, etc., so it's really not less valuable than
cash to most people.  This still involves someone purchasing the gift
cards, but if you contact the stores/merchants, they may have a real easy
way to do it.  Good luck!

_________________________
Paula K. Burkhart
Assistant Vice Provost for Research
and Faculty Development
1219 University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403-1219
541-346-3188
FAX 541-346-2023

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