What are pre-study checks?

Some researchers add pre-study checks to their studies. These short checks come before the study and confirm that participants are attentive and honest. This article explains what pre-study checks are, how long they take, and what happens whether you pass or not.

Pre-study checks are an optional step researchers can add when they set up a study. If a study includes them, you complete the check before you can access the study. Researchers can leave them out entirely, so not every study has them.

The check is a few short questions about how carefully you read, how honestly you answer, whether you understand the task, and how consistent your answers are. Read each question carefully and answer as yourself.

The check takes about one minute.

You complete the check before you start the study. If you pass, you continue to the study. If you don’t pass, you can’t take that study, but a single missed check is unlikely to affect your account.

If you repeatedly rush, ignore instructions, or break study rules, this may affect your account status. Take your time, read each question carefully, and answer as yourself. That’s all we ask.

Researchers include the check time in the total length of their study. They pay participants who complete the check and the study via Prolific, and that payment covers all of the time, including the check.

If you don’t pass the check, you can’t complete the study, so you aren’t paid for it.