Prolific Academic Survey Alerts

[Deleted User]

Thanks olliebean, I'll do that.  Your reply is reassuring.

Crimson

olliebean

Learning and decision-making experiment

By ucl.ac.uk

284 places

£2.50 • £7.24/hr

20 mins

I was screened from this one on the basis that I was not wearing headphones (I was), based on a test where I was played three tones and had to select which one was the quietest. I have previously done studies with this same headphone test at the start, and always found it easy to discern which tone was the quietest; however in this case I found no discernible variation in volume, so was essentially just guessing. Did anyone else try this one, and have the same problem? I have messaged the researcher, and they have told me "a good proportion of people pass this test," so I don't know what to make of it.

[Deleted User]

I did not see this one today, olliebean, but I remember doing it previously and found it difficult to decide which tone was the quietest.

I must have guessed correctly and I'm sorry, having done your best,  you were screened out.

Crimson

warby68

Yes same for me, my headphones don't work either apparently. I found 2 of the 3 sounds hard to distinguish between on each test. 

If those getting through are lucky guessers its not going to help their results.

olliebean

When I've done studies with this test in them before, there have always been two tones similar in volume but slightly different in quality, and another tone clearly quieter. This time, although there was still the difference in quality, I couldn't hear any difference in volume. I messaged them again, and they say they are checking with the software team. Doesn't help me, though, I've already missed out on the £2.50 plus potential £2.50 bonus. Ah well.

Value

Think there might have been a lot of people failing to distinguish the quieter tones. The spaces available on this study keeps going up. I haven't accepted it as I don't have headphones at the moment but have left it sitting on my available studies page.

willowcat27

Deleted_User said:

Although I understand that there is no 'penalty' I am concerned about the increasing number of studies I have no option other than to 'Return' when, after securing a place (when places are available) and attempting to start almost immediately, this notice comes up:

"Experiment not available This experiment is currently full. Please return to the instructions that the experiment owner has sent you." 

It happened most recently this morning.  What I find 'difficult' is that there is no option other than to Return the Study when the only choice is to Return the study.  For example, it is not possible to let Prolific know, at the point of 'Returning the Study' that it is an enforced decision.

I wonder if it is, generally, happening much more often now (studies have places available, a place is reserved, then, subsequently, it has to be Returned as there are no places availabile), or if perhaps I am just unfortunate.  Thank you for any opinions or experiences with this.  I really am concerned about the increasing number of 'Returned Studies' I now have, often one or more every day and, at worst, four in a fow in the same day.

Crimson

Yes, I am also noticing that this is happening on a much more regular basis.  And it's always the ones that start with the red square in the middle of the screen that just says 'start' and then when you press it, it tells you the study is full.  In fact I had one the other day and when I pressed start, it went through to the study ok and I was so surprised because I'm so used to it saying 'study is full'. 

warby68

I can't complain really overall, I'm up to £125 for March which is good going. Even so I'm also having to return quite a few more than usual, mainly where you get a place but then its full. I don't think it affects your status. Its when a researcher returns that it might.

[Deleted User]

Yes, it's  the same for me, willowcat27.  I wonder if it's  something to do with that particular type of link because there are always places available when I click to reserve the place.

The Researcher has not responded although I did let him/her know about it.

Crimson

willowcat27

olliebean said:

Learning and decision-making experiment

By ucl.ac.uk

284 places

£2.50 • £7.24/hr

20 mins

I was screened from this one on the basis that I was not wearing headphones (I was), based on a test where I was played three tones and had to select which one was the quietest. I have previously done studies with this same headphone test at the start, and always found it easy to discern which tone was the quietest; however in this case I found no discernible variation in volume, so was essentially just guessing. Did anyone else try this one, and have the same problem? I have messaged the researcher, and they have told me "a good proportion of people pass this test," so I don't know what to make of it.

I did this study as well and agree with you that it was a lot more difficult to discern which sound was the quietest, normally with these tests it's much more obvious.  However I did pass the test and completed the study. I always have had a very acute sense of hearing though. There were extra attention checks while doing the study where a voice would very quietly say 1, 2 or 3 after you had selected a coloured box, some of which would result in a screaming sound, so there were lots of sounds going on.