Probably somewhat common. Any research program/project that utilizes human subjects needs to recruit participants. This job typically goes to the lowest man on the totem pole (i.e. undergrads in most labs).
I know D2 did volunteer recruitment both as an undergrad and as a post-graduation/pre-med school research assistant. When she first started her a research assistant position, part of her duties used to involve riding public buses around town and sitting at bus stops where she handed out flyers to people who appeared to qualify as potential study participants (smokers).