Manage participant experience in an AI moderated study

Several settings shape what participants experience during an AI moderated session, from how the AI moderator converses with them to whether they need to create a Dscout account.

Custom introduction

By default, participants are guided into their session by the AI moderator. You can also add a custom introduction that's shown before the session begins—use it to set expectations, explain what you'll cover, or share any special instructions.

To add a custom introduction:

1

On the AI moderator tab, click Introduction.

2

Click anywhere in the Introduction section. A custom message text box is displayed.

3

Enter your custom introduction text in the Custom message text box.

4

Click Done.

Now, your custom introduction is saved and will be presented to participants at the start of their study:

Conversation style

In the Participant experience section of the Overview tab, choose how the AI moderator paces the conversation:

• Turn-based conversation (default): The moderator asks each question and lets the participant respond without interrupting. The participant manually indicates when they're ready to proceed. Best for studies that need longer, more thoughtful answers.

• Natural conversation: The moderator and participant converse freely, interrupting as needed to keep things moving. Best for studies that need shorter answers.

For information on how each conversation style appears to participants, see Participant flow in an AI moderated study.

Chrome extension

The Dscout browser extension lets you capture click data and generate heat maps for use during analysis. This is particularly useful if your study has task questions with Figma prototypes.

In the Participant experience section of the Overview tab, you can choose to require participants have the extension or not:

Note: Auto-recruited AI moderated studies always require the Chrome extension. This setting is only available when you invite your own participants (via share link or Private Panels).

Setting	Description
Extension required (default)	Participants must have the Dscout browser extension installed to participate in your study. If they don’t have the extension installed already, they will be prompted to do so before starting the study.
Extension free	Participants are not required to have the Dscout browser extension installed to participate in your study. Warning: Click data will not be collected and heat maps will not be generated for participants without the Dscout browser extension. We do not recommend this option if you wish to have this data during analysis.

Participant sign-up

By default, participants are required to provide their name and email address before they can participate in studies, including AI moderated studies. However, you can disable this requirement if you don’t want your participants to have to complete this additional step.

In the Participant experience section of the Overview tab, you have the following options:

Note: Auto-recruited AI moderated studies always require participant sign-up, as do all studies paid via Dscout. This setting is only available when you invite your own participants (via share link or Private Panels) and manage payments externally.

Setting	Description
Require participant sign-up (default)	Participants must provide their name and email address to participate in your study. Note: Requiring participant sign-up does not automatically add a participant to Dscout’s Scout Panel. Requiring sign-up simply allows us to better assist if issues arise by collecting the participant’s name and email address.
Skip participant sign-up	Participants are not required to provide their name or email address to participate in your study. Warning: Be aware of the following when skipping participant sign-up: Participant names will not be available (unless you ask for them at some point in your study). Participant emails will not be collected. Participants will not be agreeing to Dscout’s Terms and Conditions. Data and entries will be deleted after 120 days. Dscout cannot provide participant support if issues arise.

Tip: If you choose to skip participant sign-up on a study with an informed consent document attached, participants are still required to agree to the document before they can begin. For more information, see Add informed consent to an AI moderated study.