Prolific Academic Survey Alerts

MollyR

Re the e-mail invitation - I often get e-mail invitations for studies which my profile should tell them are totally inappropriate for me.

Woodsider55

House_owner said:

Did anyone today do the study that required listening to different sounds? I did it - it took nearly 20 minutes. At the end I was automatically sent back to Prolific and a completion code was given.

 Later I got a message from the researcher asking me to return the study as “you didn’t  finish it’ 
I returned as requested because I didn’t want a rejection, but sent a reply to the researcher saying I thought it was unfair as I had spent the time completing the study, and was automatically redirected back to Prolific.

Did this happen to anyone else?

I get this sometimes, I don't return it but refresh the page. That seems to update status.

Slinky

Anyone else doing the Neotiv trials? Popped up again today. Nice little series of studies over 9 weeks with a bonus at the end. Third year in a row I've being doing this series.

Mum161111

Every new study notification, when I click to start, tells me I am ineligible to participate although it also ssys my account is in good standing.

This has been happening since yesterday.  Does anyone know if there is a way to fix this?  I contacted Prolific but it may take time before they get back to me. 

I have tried everything I can think of:  Refreshing, continuing to click 'Start' both Chrome and Firefox and logging out and back in again but nothing seems to fix the problem. I was getting a bit nervous in case it conttinues and I can't  participate anymore.    I decided to "cash out" my small balance.

I'll be glad of any information, help or ideas, thank you.

elsien

My only suggestion would have been to try a different browser, or a different device, but if you’ve tried both of those the  any other thing I can think of is whether it’s a Internet router issue. I’m not a techie person, but I think there’s been something on here before about problems because of the IP address - static or whatever the other one is.
@MollyR, can you throw any light on this?

I can’t remember what the outcome was, so you might have to do a search. I find the search facility on here impossible. Possibly try turning your router off for a couple of minutes to try to reset things? 

Oh yes, and clearing cookies. 

MollyR

Most people are on dynamic IP addresses, unless they have deliberately selected a static IP.  If a particular range of IP addresses gets a bad reputation, it can cause problems.  Turning off your router for half an hour or more (even overnight would be good) and then firing it up again would,  if you have a dynamic IP, connect you to a different one.  You can check what it is, before and after, on whatsmyip.org.  If that doesn't change the address, you may be on a static IP, in which case you could speak to your ISP and ask to be assigned a different one.  If so, make sure that it is one which doesn't claim to be in France or somewhere - some of them do, even if they belong to British ISPs - because Prolific will think you are spoofing the IP address!

Mum161111

Thank you very much for the helpful and much appreciated  replies. Just after lunch I received another "New Study available" and, this time, I was able to Start straight away and complete it .  It was Part 2 of a 3 Part Study:  1st was four months ago, 2nd was today and the 3rd and final part is to take place in July.

I don't know if this Study this afternoon "worked" because it was part of the earlier one but I am hoping it may mean that the problem/ 'blip' has been resolved. 

I have not had the normal amount of notifications this afternoon - just the Part 2 Study but, hopefully, things are beginning to be on track again.  I'll post back if any developments and thank you very much for all your interest and help.

Graceglow

Slinky said:

Anyone else doing the Neotiv trials? Popped up again today. Nice little series of studies over 9 weeks with a bonus at the end. Third year in a row I've being doing this series.

Yes, I’ve been involved in the Neotiv trials. Just finished my second series at end January. So, not expecting the next round till Autumn.

silvercar

I’m abroad I’m abroad at the moment. As previously no study’s show up unless they are subsequent parts to an existing study. Today I have 2 such studies showing, but trying to start both results in a message that prolific a can see I’m abroad so it won’t let me start them. In the mean time I have messages from both researchers asking me to complete the studies and saying I should be able to start them as they are showing on my dashboard.

MollyR

I reckon you have two options.  (1) Spoof your IP - liable to get you expelled from Prolific if they spot it.  (2) Message the researchers to tell them you are abroad, Prolific won't let you undertake the studies while you are abroad, tell them the date of your return and ask whether they will be able to wait that long for you to complete the studies.