If you're using dscout Recruit to find participants for your mission, you'll need to build a screener.

First, create a project, then create a new screener or copy one from a previous project.

Once you've created your screener, there are four major steps to building it out:

1. Set scout expectations using the Details tab
2. Identify your audience with the Participants tab
3. Write your question script in the Questions tab
4. Submit your screener for review and implement your Research Advisor's feedback

Set expectations with the Details tab

On the Details tab, you'll see several fields to fill out:

Appearance

• Image: First, select an amazing Hero Image to show off the topic of your research.
• Company Branding: If you want to brand your screener, toggle this on! Otherwise, scouts will be blind to your company name.

Mission Details

• Mission Openings: The number of scouts you'll invite to your mission.
• Mission Duration: How long is your mission(s) going to last? Let scouts know here. (For Live missions, we recommend using "1" day if you only plan to conduct one session per participant.)
• Mission Start date: This is the date that you plan to begin fielding your research.
• Mission Reward: Be sure to specify the incentive scouts can expect for completing their mission requirements. Most dscout projects pay between $20-$200, depending on how much time and effort is required, and how niche the recruit is.

Overview

• Teaser: Write up a fun and engaging teaser statement to encourage scouts to apply. Let scouts know what to expect if they're selected, but don't give too many details away to prevent applicant bias! See some examples for inspiration.
• Internal Name: If it's helpful for your business purposes, give this screener an internal name. This field is hidden from scouts.
• Application Limit: Use this field to set the number of applications you'd like to review during the scout selection process.

Identify your audience with the Participants tab

On the Participants tab, you can specify the demographic information scouts need to fit to prequalify for your screener, as well as adjust your settings based on whether you'd like to recruit dscout panel scouts or participants of your own.

Bring your own participants

Use the "public" option to recruit dscout panel scouts, or the "private" option to invite your own participants via the webpage link provided. Note: if you'd like to recruit both dscout panel scouts as well as your own, use the "public" option—your own participants can still apply via the webpage link.

Targeting Attributes

Utilize these settings to target your scout audience by a range of demographic and device-related attributes, such as age, location (country), education, device type, etc.. Your screener will only be visible to scouts who fit the demographic criteria you specify in this section. If you don't have requirements for these demographics, we recommend leaving them open. Note: scouts who have not provided responses for the demographics you're targeting will be required to complete these fields before proceeding or being disqualified.

Participant Controls

Choose whether or not to recruit scouts who have participated in a mission within your account or project. You can also choose to turn on the Balance feature, and customize even further by specifying ethnicity balance. 

Write your question script

Now it's time to write some questions!

You can ask scouts up to 20 unique questions, including up to 1 photo and 1 video question. The rest of your questions can be open-ended, or a wide range of closed-ended questions (see all question types here).

Be sure to include at least one knockout question (questions with termination/disqualifying options) at the beginning of your screener to exclude scouts early who wouldn't be a good fit under any circumstances.

If you'd like to change the order of your questions, ensure you're not in "editing mode" for the question you'd like to move, then tap & hold the question and drag & drop to your preferred position.

It's a best practice to include a video or picture prompt if your mission will include one, and single select questions that allow you to filter applicants by segment, behavior, sentiment, etc.

As a last step, define your skip and knockout logic as necessary.

Submit for review

Once you have created your screener and mission, click the "Submit for Review" button in the bottom right corner of the screener Setup page. Your Research Advisor will review your project and provide feedback within two business days (see more about the screener review process here).

After you make adjustments based on your Research Advisor's feedback, they'll launch your screener for you or approve it for you to launch on your timeline! There will often be hundreds of applications to sort through within a few days — which is what you'll do next.