Dear SoSci Survey Support Team,
I am planning to use SoSci Survey for a non-commercial academic research study conducted as part of my PhD research in Forensic Psychology at Ankara University, Türkiye.
The study is also planned to be submitted as a TÜBİTAK 1002-A research project. The research is not conducted on behalf of, or in cooperation with, any commercial company, and no commercial entity will have access to the data or influence the study design.
Before setting up the survey, I would like to confirm whether my study is eligible for free academic use on the standard www.soscisurvey.de server.
I would also like to clarify the following technical points:
The study uses a 2×2 between-subjects experimental vignette design, with approximately 250–300 participants.
Participants will be randomly assigned to one of four experimental conditions:
Cyberstalking × Former Partner
Cyberstalking × Stranger
Offline Stalking × Former Partner
Offline Stalking × Stranger
I would like to use the Random Generator with equal distribution so that the four experimental conditions are filled as evenly as possible.
Since participants will be recruited through convenience and snowball sampling, I am particularly interested in whether equal allocation to the four experimental conditions can be maintained despite participants entering the survey at different times and some participants potentially dropping out before completing the questionnaire.
I am also considering block randomization based on a demographic characteristic, such as age group, if this is technically feasible and appropriate. Is block randomization with equal distribution available on the free academic server?
The survey will be anonymous. I will not collect names, email addresses, telephone numbers, IP addresses, or other information intended to identify individual participants. I will only collect general demographic variables such as age group, gender, and education level.
Could you please confirm:
Whether this study qualifies for free academic use;
Whether the Random Generator and equal distribution functions are available on the free academic server;
Whether a 2×2 factorial vignette experiment with four equally distributed conditions can be implemented reliably;
Whether block randomization is available under the free academic use conditions; and
Whether collecting general demographic information such as age group, gender, and education level is compatible with the requirement that surveys on the standard server remain anonymous.
Thank you very much for your assistance.
Kind regards