How to Run Conjoint on Prolific
Use a respondent URL, URL parameters, completion codes, and long-format exports for Prolific conjoint studies.
The Short Version
Use a respondent URL, URL parameters, completion codes, and long-format exports for Prolific conjoint studies. A practical way to begin is to build the conjoint study in Conjoint Survey, then preview the respondent URL and confirm the design works on mobile. Finish by making sure you after fielding, export respondent-level records and profile-level long data. The full walkthrough below explains each part in order.
Is This Guide for You?
Researchers recruiting online respondents through Prolific while hosting the study instrument elsewhere.
Follow These Steps
Work through these 6 steps at your own pace. The wording is intentionally practical, and you can return to the checklist at the end when you are ready to review your work.
- Build the conjoint study in Conjoint Survey.
- Preview the respondent URL and confirm the design works on mobile.
- In Prolific, use the Conjoint Survey public study URL as the external study link.
- Pass participant identifiers through URL parameters when needed.
- Use completion messaging or completion-code handling according to your plan.
- After fielding, export respondent-level records and profile-level long data.
What This Helps You Accomplish
Prolific is a recruitment platform, not a full conjoint-programming environment. Researchers still need a study instrument that records randomization, shown profiles, respondent IDs, and exports in a shape suitable for analysis.
What a Good Result Looks Like
A well-connected Prolific workflow preserves anonymous participant identifiers, returns respondents with the correct completion status, prevents avoidable duplicate submissions, and produces a response file that can be reconciled with recruitment records.
Example: preserve the participant ID
Append Prolific's participant placeholder to the published respondent URL using a stable field such as prolific_pid. Complete the link once in a sandbox or test session, verify that the ID appears in the export, and configure the completion code or redirect. Keep the Conjoint Survey response ID and Prolific ID as separate fields.
Decisions to Make Before You Begin
- Choose the eligibility filters and target population before recruitment.
- Set realistic estimated completion time and compensation.
- Decide how completion codes, timeouts, returns, and rejections will be handled.
- Write duplicate and quality rules before inspecting outcomes.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Pasting a live link without testing placeholder substitution.
- Putting names or email addresses in URL parameters.
- Rejecting respondents using an exclusion rule that was never disclosed or validated.
Your Practical Next Step
Run one complete test from the Prolific study page through the survey and back again, then reconcile that test record in both systems before launching.
A Quick Confidence Check
- Pilot with a small number of respondents first.
- Capture the Prolific participant ID if your protocol permits it.
- Keep task count reasonable.
- Check incomplete starts and duplicates before final analysis.
Common Questions
Can I use this guide if I am new to this?
Yes. Researchers recruiting online respondents through Prolific while hosting the study instrument elsewhere. Follow the steps in order, start with a small test, and use the final checklist before you field or report anything important.
What is the simplest way to get started?
Begin by build the conjoint study in Conjoint Survey. Next, preview the respondent URL and confirm the design works on mobile. You do not need to perfect every setting before running a small preview or pilot.
How do I know when I am ready?
Use the confidence check above. In particular: Pilot with a small number of respondents first. Capture the Prolific participant ID if your protocol permits it. Keep task count reasonable. Check incomplete starts and duplicates before final analysis. When the decision is consequential, keep your study documentation and ask a qualified colleague or methods reviewer to examine the design as well.
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Product names and fielding platforms mentioned in this guide belong to their respective owners. Conjoint Survey is an independent academic research tool and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by those services.