> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.dscout.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.dscout.com/interview-studies/manage-an-interview-study/message-participants-in-an-interview-study.md).

# Message participants in an interview study

Once you’ve invited a participant to your study (or once they’ve signed up using your study webpage), you can message them from the **Manage** tab of the builder. Sending messages is helpful if you want to send reminders, thank-you notes, or other information before or after a participant’s actual interview session. Participants are notified of new messages both via email and in the Dscout app.

{% hint style="info" %}
This article discusses messaging participants *outside* of an interview session. For information on messaging with a participant during a session, see [Chat during an interview session](/interview-studies/conduct-an-interview-session/chat-during-an-interview-session.md).
{% endhint %}

## Message individual participants

If you want to message a participant before or after their session, you can do so from within the builder. Here, you can also view your message history, including any messages the participant has sent to you.

**To send a message to an individual participant:**

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
Navigate to the **Manage** tab of your study. All participants who have been invited to or signed up for your study are displayed.

![](/files/790eefb906c18d14deaaff734458c87a7267f4bc)
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Find the participant you want to message.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Click the number in the **Messages** column of the desired participant. The messaging sidebar is displayed.

![](/files/5a5b636ea021c86da3b9c82dd88f9e59ac642bfd)

{% hint style="info" %}
If no messages have been sent, you’ll see a dash (**-**) instead of a number.
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Type your message in the text box. You can format your message in the following ways:

* `*bold*` = **bold**
* `_italic_` = *italic*
* `<https://examplelink.com>` = [https://examplelink.com](https://examplelink.com/)
* `[Sample link](https://examplelink.com)` = [Sample link](https://examplelink.com/)

![](/files/2ee98a034f41a530920876e7fe4b2ead1c84166b)
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Click **Message \[participant name]**.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

Now, your message is sent to the participant. They’ll be notified by email and through the Dscout app. You can view your message history in the messaging sidebar, including any responses from the participant.

## Message participants in bulk

If you have a message to share with many participants, you can send it in bulk rather than sending it individually.

{% hint style="info" %}
Messages sent in bulk are delivered individually to participants. Participants will not be able to see others' responses.
{% endhint %}

**To message participants in bulk:**

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
Navigate to the **Manage** tab of your study. All participants who have been invited to or signed up for your study are displayed.

![](/files/790eefb906c18d14deaaff734458c87a7267f4bc)
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Select the participants you want to message using the checkboxes beside their names. The bulk action toolbar is displayed.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Click **Message** in the bulk action toolbar at the top of the participant list. The messaging sidebar is displayed.

![](/files/d24d00a00f5bdac3c19f6c2b5838cdc336ef7ae3)
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Type your message in the text box. You can format your message in the following ways:

* `*bold*` = **bold**
* `_italic_` = *italic*
* `<https://examplelink.com>` = [https://examplelink.com](https://examplelink.com/)
* `[Sample link](https://examplelink.com)` = [Sample link](https://examplelink.com/)
  {% endstep %}

{% step %}
Click **Message selected scouts**.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

Now, your message is sent to your selected participants. They’ll be notified by email and through the Dscout app. You can view your message history in the messaging sidebar by selecting individual participants, including any responses from the participant.


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://help.dscout.com/interview-studies/manage-an-interview-study/message-participants-in-an-interview-study.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.