For participants to succeed in Dscout studies (and for you to collect the best data), it's important participants have the right equipment. What they'll need depends on the study type as well as the type of device you're conducting that study on. Use the sections below to understand what your study's specifications will mean for your participants' technology requirements.
Screeners
| Screener type | Mobile app | Web extension | Web browser |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public screeners (auto-recruiting from the Dscout Scout Panel or Partner Panels) |
✅ (Required) Scouts in the Dscout panel discover new screener opportunities through the Dscout app. |
Scouts can complete web-based screeners if sent a screener webpage link directly. | |
| Private screeners (inviting your own participants) | ✅ (Required) |
Diary studies
| Device type | Mobile app | Web extension | Web browser |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diary study with desktop activities* | ✅ (Required) | ✅ (Google Chrome or Edge required) | |
| Diary study with mobile activities* | ✅ (Required) |
* Note: Diary missions can include both desktop and mobile activities. If you include both types of activities in your mission, participants will need both the Dscout app and the Dscout browser extension.
Interviews
| Device type | Mobile app | Web extension | Web browser |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desktop | ✅ (Google Chrome or Edge required) | ||
| Mobile | ✅ (Required) |
Usability tests
| Device type | Mobile app | Web extension | Web browser |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desktop usability test | ✅ (Required)* | ✅ (Google Chrome or Edge required) | |
| Mobile usability test | ✅ (Required) |
* Note: You can bypass the need for participants to have the Dscout browser extension in desktop usability tests; however, less data will be collected. For more information, see Manage participant experience in a usability test.
Media surveys
| Device type | Mobile app | Web extension | Web browser |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desktop media survey | ✅ (Required) | ||
| Mobile media survey | ✅ (Required) |
For more information on device requirements, see Minimum device requirements.