Prolific Academic Survey Alerts

allison445

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 had the exact same issue with this one some of the tones were too close to call.

allison445

Paying Attention to Sound Features 
By bbk.ac.uk

well chuffed when I managed to snaffle a place for this only to discover 
To participate in this research you need to be aged 18-40 years and have no known hearing impairments. 
Nope I am well over this age wondering if this was a prolific glitch or just a lazy researcher 
3 returned today 😮

elsien

willowcat27 said:

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.  

I was just asked to return this on the grounds that I wasn't wearing headphones. I was, I got past the tones onto the bit where I had to press the keyboard for whichever number was being spoken. I could hear the numbers perfectly well but it kept telling me I was too slow when touching 1 2 or 3 even when I was getting them straight away. I don't think it was recording what I was pressing so I've sent a message telling them I believe the problem to be at their end not mine and have declined to return it. Not that I expect it to make any difference. 

yupiteru

willowcat27 said:

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'. 

These are the studies hosted on the Gorilla platform and the problem is apparently caused by a synchronization error.  It is a regular thing for me as well and is a very disappointing occurrence, especially when I have not completed a study for while.

Prolific seems to be plagued more than usual with these little idiosyncrasies, that can make for a frustrating experience some days.

It is a good thing that returning studies has no detrimental effect on ones account standing, as I just counted and since the 1st of March I have returned 12 studies for various reasons, this 'experiment is full' error being one of them.

[Deleted User]

"These are the studies hosted on the Gorilla platform and the problem is apparently caused by a synchronization error.  It is a regular thing for me as well and is a very disappointing occurrence, especially when I have not completed a study for while."

Thank you for that helpful explanation, yupiteru.  Yes, it is reassuring that the number of 'Returned' studies does not have a detrimental affect on our Prolific accounts.

Crimson

C_J

allison445 said:

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 had the exact same issue with this one some of the tones were too close to call.

I was screened out of this one for apparently not wearing headphones too (I was). I shan't bother contacting the Researcher since it doesn't seem to make any difference!  Disappointing though.

bartbear1

anyone else get annoyed when people do not turn up for a group 
I had a survey high paying and bonus for a group survey but their was loads of last minute drop outs where you wait for 10 minutes for people to turn up and they do not turn up so you can not take part in the survey

[Deleted User]

Yes, bartbear1.  It was quite a few months ago and the 'partner' I was paired with did not continue.  Although I cannot remember the name of the Study now, the Researcher, very kindly paid me for the full Study since I had not dropped out.  I think there was a bonus and, understandably, that was not paid.  I think it was about 20 or 30 minutes into the Study when I realized that my 'partner' had dropped out and it was impossible for me to continue.

This particular Researcher was really generous and maybe not all are as good as this.

Crimson

elsien

C_J said:

allison445 said:

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 had the exact same issue with this one some of the tones were too close to call.

I was screened out of this one for apparently not wearing headphones too (I was). I shan't bother contacting the Researcher since it doesn't seem to make any difference!  Disappointing though.

They’ve replied telling me it’s a website error and still requesting I return it. Which I shall have to do, otherwise they will, but no mention of the time I did spend to get to where I was. 

olliebean

elsien said:

C_J said:

allison445 said:

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 had the exact same issue with this one some of the tones were too close to call.

I was screened out of this one for apparently not wearing headphones too (I was). I shan't bother contacting the Researcher since it doesn't seem to make any difference!  Disappointing though.

They’ve replied telling me it’s a website error and still requesting I return it. Which I shall have to do, otherwise they will, but no mention of the time I did spend to get to where I was. 

At least they admitted it was an error on their end. When I messaged them they just said, essentially, sorry but lots of other people managed, it must have been your setup that wasn't suitable.