> 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/study-basics/question-types/open-ended-questions/screen-recording-questions.md). # Screen recording questions
Study typeAvailability
Screenerstrue
Usability testsfalse
Media surveystrue
Intercept studiesfalse
AI moderated studiesfalse
Diary studiestrue
Screen recording questions let participants answer by recording their screen while they talk. Use a screen recording question when you want to watch how someone does something on their own device, such as walking you through a mobile app, browsing a website, or showing a workflow on their computer.
Each screen recording question collects a single recording that participants make on the spot. They can't upload a recording they've already made. To let participants upload a file, use a [video question](/study-basics/question-types/open-ended-questions/video-questions.md) instead. To collect more than one screen recording, add a separate question for each. For the number of video and screen recording questions each study type allows, see [Media limits](/study-basics/design-a-study/media-limits.md). {% hint style="info" %} **Note:** Screen recording questions aren't available in usability tests, intercept studies, or AI moderated studies because those studies are already continuously recorded. To have participants work in a website or prototype, use a [task question](/study-basics/question-types/activity-questions/task-questions.md). To have them answer out loud, use a [Talk out loud question](/study-basics/question-types/open-ended-questions/talk-out-loud-questions.md). {% endhint %} ### Screen recording settings The settings available on a screen recording question depend on which type of study you're building. Select your study type below for more information. {% tabs %} {% tab title="Screeners" %} Add a screen recording question to a screener in the **Additional questions** section of the **Screener** tab. A screener can include one video or screen recording question. | Setting | Description | | --------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | **Prompt** | The instructions applicants see for this question. Describe what you'd like them to show or walk you through. You can format the prompt with `*bold*`, `_italic_`, and `[link text](http://example.com)`. Type @ to recall a closed-ended response from earlier in your screener. | | **Starting URL** (optional) | Directs applicants to a website or prototype when they reach this question. Turn on the **Starting URL** toggle and enter the link. The URL must begin with `http://` or `https://`. If the toggle is on, you need to add a URL before you can launch your study or submit it for review. For more information, see [Starting URLs](#what-does-a-starting-url-do). | | **Maximum video length** | How long applicants can record: **30 sec**, **1 min**, or **2 min**. | | **Skip logic** (optional) | Route applicants to a later question or end the screener after they answer. For more information, see [Skip logic in screeners](/study-basics/design-a-study/skip-logic-in-screeners.md). | Screen recording questions don't support stimuli. To send applicants to a website or prototype, use a starting URL. {% hint style="info" %} **Note:** Screen recording questions aren’t available on the screeners of auto-recruit studies, which support only multiple choice questions. They also aren’t supported in screeners for Partner Panels. {% endhint %} {% endtab %} {% tab title="Media surveys" %} Add screen recording questions on the **Media survey** tab of your builder. A participant can be asked for up to 3 video or screen recording questions. | Setting | Description | | --------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Prompt** | The instructions participants see for this question. Describe what you'd like them to show or walk you through. You can format the prompt with `*bold*`, `_italic_`, and `[link text](http://example.com)`. Type @ to recall a closed-ended response from earlier in your study. | | **Starting URL** (optional) | Directs participants to a website or prototype when they reach this question. Turn on the **Starting URL** toggle and enter the link. The URL must begin with `http://` or `https://`. If the toggle is on, you need to add a URL before you can launch your study or submit it for review. For more information, see [Starting URLs](#what-does-a-starting-url-do). | | **Maximum video length** | How long participants can record: **30 sec**, **1 min**, or **2 min**. | | **Skip logic** (optional) | Route participants to a later question, question group, or the end of the study after they answer. For more information, see [Skip logic](/study-basics/design-a-study/skip-logic-in-usability-tests-media-surveys-and-intercept-studies.md). | Screen recording questions don't support stimuli. To send participants to a website or prototype, use a starting URL. {% endtab %} {% tab title="Diary studies" %} Add screen recording questions to a diary study on the **Questions** tab of your builder. A participant can be asked for up to 3 video or screen recording questions in an activity. | Setting | Description | | ------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Type** |

What participants record. The options depend on whether the activity is a mobile or desktop activity.

| | **Prompt** | The instructions participants see for this question. Describe what you'd like them to show or walk you through. You can format the prompt with `*bold*`, `_italic_`, and `[link text](http://example.com)`. | | **Starting URL** | The website or prototype participants are sent to. This setting appears when you choose **Link**. The URL must begin with `http://` or `https://`. A URL is required for **Link** questions, so add one before you can launch your study. For more information, see [Starting URLs](#what-does-a-starting-url-do). | | **Maximum video length** | How long participants can record: **30 sec**, **1 min**, **2 min**, or **5 min**. | | **Skip logic** (optional) | Route participants to a later point in the activity after they answer. For more information, see [Skip logic in diary studies](/study-basics/design-a-study/skip-logic-in-diary-studies.md). | Screen recording questions don't support stimuli. To send participants to a website or prototype, choose **Link** and add a starting URL. For what participants need to complete desktop activities, see [Device options in a diary study](/diary-studies/what-are-diary-studies-in-dscout/device-options-in-a-diary-study.md). {% endtab %} {% endtabs %} ### Add a screen recording question to a study {% stepper %} {% step %} Navigate to the tab of your builder where you want the question: **Screener**, **Media survey**, or **Questions**, depending on your study type. {% endstep %} {% step %} Click **+ Add** in the center of the builder or in the left sidebar. (**+ Add question** in diary studies, or **+ Add additional question** in screeners.) {% endstep %} {% step %} Select **Screen recording**.
{% endstep %} {% step %} Enter your **Prompt**.
{% endstep %} {% step %} Set how participants start. In media surveys and screeners, turn on **Starting URL** and enter a link if you want participants to begin on a website or prototype. In diary studies, choose a **Type**, and add a starting URL if you choose **Link**. {% endstep %} {% step %} Choose a **Maximum video length**. {% endstep %} {% step %} Click **Done**. {% endstep %} {% endstepper %} {% hint style="warning" %} **Warning:** Screen recording can capture anything on a participant’s screen. Avoid asking participants to share sensitive information. Privacy blur isn’t available on screen recording questions. {% endhint %} #### What does a starting URL do? A starting URL sends participants to a website or prototype when the question is introduced. Without one, participants read your prompt and start recording on their own, then open whatever you've asked them to show. With one, participants open your link first and then start recording themselves, so they decide when the recording begins. For screenshots of each step participants see on mobile and desktop, see [What participants see in screen recording questions](/study-basics/question-types/open-ended-questions/screen-recording-questions/screen-recording-guide-for-researchers.md). #### Group and reuse screen recording questions Screen recording questions work with Dscout's question-organization features: * [**Question groups**](/study-basics/question-types/question-settings-and-organization/question-groups.md) keep related questions together and can randomize the order they're presented in. * [**Question banks**](/study-basics/question-types/question-settings-and-organization/question-banks.md) let you save a screen recording question and reuse it in other studies that support screen recording questions. * [**Multi-variate testing**](/study-basics/question-types/question-settings-and-organization/multi-variate-testing.md) presents different concepts or design variants to different participants. Available in media surveys. ### Analyze a screen recording question Dscout automatically transcribes each screen recording that has audio, so you can read what participants said alongside the recording. #### Screeners and media surveys In the **Questions** view, a screen recording question shows a grid of thumbnails. Each thumbnail shows the recording's length, and the participant's name below it opens their full entry in a new tab. Select a thumbnail to watch the recording. Use **Sort by** to order the recordings by **Newest to oldest**, **Oldest to newest**, **Participant name: A to Z**, or **Participant name: Z to A**.
#### Diary studies In diary studies, open an entry to watch the participant's recording and read its transcript with the rest of their responses.
#### View individual responses Open a participant's entry to watch their recording, read the transcript, and add tags. Highlight text in the transcript to tag it. #### Export transcripts The CSV export of your study's response data has one column for each screen recording question, which contains the transcript of each participant's recording. ### Frequently asked questions
Can participants upload a screen recording they've already made? No. Screen recording questions require participants to record their screen on the spot. If you want participants to be able to upload a file, including a screen recording they've already made, use a [video question](/study-basics/question-types/open-ended-questions/video-questions.md).
What's the difference between a screen recording question and a video question? A video question lets participants record a video or choose a file to upload. A screen recording question only gives participants a button to start sharing their screen, so what you get is always a recording of their screen made at the time they answer.
How long can a screen recording be? In screeners and media surveys, you can choose 30 seconds, 1 minute, or 2 minutes. In diary studies, you can choose 30 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes, or 5 minutes.
How many screen recording questions can I include? A participant can be asked for up to 3 video or screen recording questions in a media survey or in a single diary study activity. They can be asked for 1 video or screen recording question in a screener. Video and screen recording questions share the same limit. The limits are counted along any one path through your skip logic, so what matters is the most videos and screen recordings any one participant could be asked for. This means your study can include more than 3 of these questions in total if skip logic sends each participant to no more than 3. If you go over the limit, Dscout asks you to remove questions before you can launch your study or submit it for review. For more information, see [Media limits](/study-basics/design-a-study/media-limits.md).
Can I add stimuli to a screen recording question? No. Screen recording questions don't support stimuli. To send participants to a website or prototype, add a starting URL. To show images or other media, ask a separate question that supports [stimuli](/study-basics/question-types/question-settings-and-organization/question-stimuli.md) first.
Does recording start automatically when participants open my starting URL? No, participants open your starting URL first and then start the recording themselves, so the recording doesn't begin until they choose to start it. For what participants see at each step, see [What participants see in screen recording questions](/study-basics/question-types/open-ended-questions/screen-recording-questions/screen-recording-guide-for-researchers.md).
Why can't participants start recording when my starting URL opens a browser start page? In desktop diary activities, browser start pages (such as a new tab page) don't allow the recording tools to run, so participants can't start a recording from them. If your research involves a browser's start page, or a link that opens one, include the URL directly in your prompt and ask participants to start the recording before they go to the URL. For more information, see [Device options in a diary study](/diary-studies/what-are-diary-studies-in-dscout/device-options-in-a-diary-study.md).
Can desktop participants record something outside their browser? Yes. On desktop, the recording captures the participant's entire screen, so they can switch tabs or record other applications. Your prompt is only visible on browser tabs, so if you ask participants to record something outside the browser, include anything they need to remember in the activity instructions as well. For more information, see [Device options in a diary study](/diary-studies/what-are-diary-studies-in-dscout/device-options-in-a-diary-study.md).
Are screen recordings transcribed? Yes. Dscout automatically transcribes screen recordings, and the transcript appears with the recording in analysis. A recording with no audio can't be transcribed, so ask participants to talk through what they're doing.
Which Dscout AI features work on screen recording questions? Dscout AI can summarize screen recording responses and group them into themes, based on their transcripts. AI summaries and AI themes need at least 5 responses to a question. For best results, wait until you have 15 or more responses. For more information, see [AI summaries](/dscout-ai/built-in-ai-features/ai-summaries.md) and [AI themes](/dscout-ai/built-in-ai-features/ai-themes.md).
Can I make a screen recording question optional? No. Dscout doesn't currently have a setting to make a question optional. To let participants skip a screen recording, first ask a multiple choice question, such as "Are you able to record your screen?", and use skip logic to send participants who answer "No" past the screen recording question. For more information, see [Skip logic in usability tests, media surveys, and intercept studies](/study-basics/design-a-study/skip-logic-in-usability-tests-media-surveys-and-intercept-studies.md), [Skip logic in diary studies](/study-basics/design-a-study/skip-logic-in-diary-studies.md), and [Skip logic in screeners](/study-basics/design-a-study/skip-logic-in-screeners.md).
What if my study involves private or sensitive information on screen? Screen recording captures whatever is on the participant’s screen, so avoid questions that ask for sensitive information. Privacy blur isn't available on screen recording questions. If you need participants to work with sensitive information, consider a [task question](/study-basics/question-types/activity-questions/task-questions.md) in a usability test, which supports privacy blur. For more information, see [Privacy blur](/study-basics/testing-prototypes/privacy-blur.md).
Why can't I add a screen recording question to my usability test, intercept study, or AI moderated study? Screen recording questions aren't available in these study types because those studies are continuously recorded. If you want participants to work in a website or prototype, use a [task question](/study-basics/question-types/activity-questions/task-questions.md). If you want participants to answer out loud, use a [Talk out loud question](/study-basics/question-types/open-ended-questions/talk-out-loud-questions.md). For the question types each study type offers, see its question types article: * [Question types in usability tests](/usability-tests/what-are-usability-tests-in-dscout/question-types-in-usability-tests.md) * [Question types in intercept studies](/intercept-studies/what-are-intercept-studies-in-dscout/question-types-in-intercept-studies.md) * [Question types in AI moderated studies](/ai-moderated-studies/what-are-ai-moderated-studies/question-types-in-ai-moderated-studies.md)
Why can't I add a screen recording question to my Partner Panels screener? Screeners for Partner Panels don't support screen recording questions. You can include a screen recording question in your study itself. For more information, see [Recruit from Partner Panels using a screener](/recruit-participants/partner-panels/recruit-from-partner-panels-using-a-screener.md).
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