Introducing in-study screening at Prolific
Based on your answers to the screening questions, you'll either proceed to the main study or exit after completing just the screening portion.
This article explains what happens when you are screened out of a study.
Reserving a place
Studies that include in-study screening will be labeled "IN-STUDY SCREENING" when you receive an invitation. You can click this label to learn more details.
You can then reserve a place and participate in the study as usual.
Completing a submission
Once you have answered the questions in the survey you will be asked to return to Prolific with a completion code as usual. You will either exit the survey after answering the screen out questions, or after you have completed the entire survey.
What happens if I am screened out of a study?
Being screened out of a study won't affect your account in any way, and you'll be paid for the time you spend answering screening questions.
When you're screened out, you'll receive both an email and a message in your Prolific account notifying you. You'll find a link to check your submission page where you can review your screening reward.
Will I be compensated for my time?
Yes! Here's how you'll be paid if you're screened out of a study:
- For studies using the first version of custom screening, you’ll be paid based on the time you spend answering the screening question(s)
- For studies using the latest custom screening version, you’ll receive a guaranteed minimum payment of £0.10/$0.14 - no matter how long the screening takes
Both versions of custom screening will be available for now, as we gradually phase from one to the other. By setting a fixed payment, we can better ensure fair compensation and prevent underpayment by researchers. You’ll also know exactly what you’ll earn for completing a screener.
While you won’t be able to see which version of the screener a study uses, you’ll always be able to tell whether the payment is fair - either from the fixed rate or how long the screening study takes.
Opt out of in-study screening
If you don't want to participate in studies with in-study screening, you can opt out by changing your preferences at any time.
To opt out:
- Click on your initials in the upper right-hand corner
- Go to your "Preferences" page
- Scroll down to "Study Type" and switch off the toggle for "In-study screening"
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