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Device options in a diary study

In a diary study, you choose how participants complete each activity—on the Dscout mobile app or on their computer. Diary is the only study type where this is set per activity, so a single study can mix them: You can ask people to capture moments on their phone during the week, then sit down at a computer to walk through a website.

Activity device options

Each activity has a device setting (labeled Scout experience). The same question types and features are available for mobile and desktop activities, so if you change your mind about how an activity should be completed, you can switch the setting any time before you launch.

Note: Five-minute screen recordings aren't available on mobile activities. If you set one on a mobile activity, the recording length is reduced to two minutes.

Here, you'll find the following options:

Option
What participants use

Mobile App

The Dscout mobile app

Desktop Web (Chrome)

A computer, with the Dscout browser extension

You'll set this while building each activity, and the activity menu marks each one with a phone or computer icon so you can see the shape of your study at a glance.

What participants need

For mobile activities, participants need the Dscout mobile app.

For desktop activities, they need:

  • A laptop or desktop computer with a working camera and microphone.

  • Google Chrome (version 80 or higher) or Microsoft Edge.

  • The Dscout browser extension.

Participants can accept your study on whatever device they happen to be using, but they'll be prompted to use the applicable device type whenever they begin an activity:

  • For a mobile activity, participants are prompted to open or download the Dscout mobile app. On a computer it shows a QR code to scan. On a phone it shows the app store buttons, along with an Open app option if they already have it installed.

  • For a desktop activity, participants are walked through installing the browser extension, then through hardware checks for their camera, microphone, and screen recording. To get to the study on a computer, they can either email themselves a link to the activity from the mobile app or simply log in to Dscout on their computer.

Screen recording in desktop activities

If a desktop activity includes a screen recording question, participants either follow a link to the starting URL you set, or read the prompt and start recording on their own.

Warning: Researching a browser's start page, or using a link that opens one? You'll need to include the URL directly in the prompt text and instruct participants to begin the recording before they head to your provided URL. Otherwise, they won't be able to start the recording.

While they record, your question prompt sits in a small widget they can drag around the page. It collapses automatically when recording starts and can be expanded again to re-read the prompt. Any questions that follow the screen recording appear in the widget too, so they can keep referring to the page while they answer.

The recording captures their entire desktop, so they can switch tabs freely—and you can ask them to record in applications outside Chrome if that's what your research needs.

Tip: The widget is only visible on Chrome tabs. If you've asked participants to record something outside the browser, they won't be able to see your prompt while they're there, so put anything they need to remember in the activity instructions as well.

Screening participants for desktop activities

If you're recruiting for a study with desktop activities, it's worth confirming up front that participants have what they need. We recommend adding these questions to your screener:

Which of the following devices do you own and currently use at least once a week? (multiple select)

  • Desktop (may select)

  • Tablet

  • Laptop (may select)

  • None of the above (terminate)

Which of the following best describes your desktop or laptop computer? (single select)

  • My computer has microphone and camera capabilities that are fully functional. (must select)

  • My computer has microphone and camera capabilities, but one or both sometimes malfunction. (terminate)

  • My computer has microphone and camera capabilities, but one or both are not functional at all. (terminate)

  • My computer does not have microphone and/or camera capabilities. (terminate)

This study has desktop activities, which require a desktop or laptop computer with a working webcam and microphone, the Chrome browser, and the Dscout browser extension. Are you willing and able to participate? (single select)

  • Yes

  • No (terminate)