Recording participant IDs with URL parameter

Question

I'm experiencing problems collecting participant ID data from Prolific.

I have set up a POST/GET variable PROLIFIC_PID (PI03_RV1).

However, I don't know whether I now need to change the survey URL and/or work with the replace() command and how?

There is a PHP code on the first page: replace('%PROLIFIC_PID%', 'PI03_RV1', 'response');

Is this correct and do I need anything else?

I've signed the DPA agreement, but the box " Log POST/GET raw data for all requests" is not available to activate at this point.

Many thanks!

Answer 1

Log POST/GET raw data for all requests

Why would you like to do that?

As for a background information: The online DPA is insufficient for collecting personal data. You will need the printed DPA that is only available for s2survey.net, see Personal data.

However, I don't know whether I now need to change the survey URL and/or work with the replace() command and how?

Are you haveing trouble with getting the ID or with returning it back? Or in other words: Do you see the ID in your data?

Comments

Log POST/GET raw data for all requests
- Understand and I don't need this

I am having trouble with getting the ID - I cannot see it in my data.

Do I need to make changes to the survey URL?

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My best guess is that there was no data send from prolific in the request. This is what I found in the logfile form yesterday:

"GET /quickdecisions/?q=T1 HTTP/2.0" 200 2869 "https://www.prolific.co/" "na"

The only data that is available here, is the "q" parameter that specifies the questionnaire. Nothing else. Seems to me that this is a configuration issue in the prolific settings.

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Thanks! Prolific would be looking to receive something like the following URL:

https://www.soscisurvey.de/quickdecisions/?q=T1&PROLIFIC_PID={{%PROLIFIC_PID}}

See instructions here (based on Qualtrics): https://researcher-help.prolific.co/hc/en-gb/articles/360009220993

How can I change the URL in SoSci survey?

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You won't have to change anything in SoSci Survey, but simply enter that URL (as you posted it here) in the prolific form.

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Okay, thank you!

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For my understanding, could you explain please what this PHP function does?

replace('%PROLIFIC_PID%', 'PI03_RV1', 'response');

Does it simply replace the variable PI03_RV1 in my dataset with the response for each participant from the URL?

So it is correct for me to use this command on the same page of the survey, directly after the POST/GET variable PROLIFIC_PID (PI03_RV1)?

Thanks!

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I am still facing problems with the ID integration via URL. The variable now shows as follows in my data set:
{{%PROLIFIC_PID}}
That is, I don't get the actual ID, but only the string "{{%PROLIFIC_PID}}" (for every participant) in the data set under variable PI03_RV1

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> For my understanding, could you explain please what this PHP function does?
> replace('%PROLIFIC_PID%', 'PI03_RV1', 'response');

The replace() command takes care that any furute occurence of "%PROLIFIC_PID%" will be replaced by whatever is stored ('response') in the variable PI03_RV1 at the time, when the replace() command runs.

> directly after the POST/GET variable PROLIFIC_PID (PI03_RV1)?

In case of a POST/GET variable this will work fine, correct.

> The variable now shows as follows in my data set:
{{%PROLIFIC_PID}}

That is ... well ... an improvement. The problem still is that prolific does not replace the placeholder with the prolific ID when it uses the original link. In my opinion you have one percentage sign missing - compared to the last screenshot in the manual that you have posted: https://researcher-help.prolific.co/hc/en-gb/articles/360009220993

Wrong: {{%PROLIFIC_PID}}
Rright: {{%PROLIFIC_PID%}}

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Thanks so much for spotting my error, that resolved the issue!