# Verasight Self-Serve survey rules

> The rules a self-serve survey fits, the attention check we run, the approved checks you can add, and what counts as a completed response.

Source: https://www.verasight.io/docs/run-your-study/what-a-survey-can-include

| Item | Rule | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Open-ended questions | Up to 2 | Questions where respondents type their own answer. |
| Multiple-choice questions | Up to 80 | The maximum appears under the count. It starts at 80 and goes down as you add other questions. |
| Matrix items | Up to 242 | The maximum starts at 242 and goes down as you add other questions. See [Count your questions](https://www.verasight.io/docs/run-your-study/what-a-survey-can-include#count-your-questions). |
| Vignettes | Allowed | Enter the number of words across all vignettes. See [Count your questions](https://www.verasight.io/docs/run-your-study/what-a-survey-can-include#count-your-questions). |
| Quotas and screen-outs | Not allowed | See [Quotas and screen-outs](https://www.verasight.io/docs/run-your-study/what-a-survey-can-include#quotas-and-screen-outs). |
| Attention check in your survey | Optional | If you use one, it must come from our [pre-approved list](https://www.verasight.io/docs/run-your-study/what-a-survey-can-include#your-own-attention-check). |
| Paced fielding | Not supported | For example, you cannot spread responses evenly across several days. |

We do not automatically review your questionnaire. If your study covers a sensitive topic, email research@verasight.io.

## Count your questions

In Verasight Self-Serve, enter how many multiple-choice questions, matrix items, and open-ended questions your survey has. Then say whether respondents read vignettes. If your survey branches, count only the longest path a respondent can take.

A survey can have up to 80 question units. Each multiple-choice and open-ended question is 1 unit. Every 3 matrix items are 1 unit, and every 250 words of vignette text are 4 units, rounded up to the next whole unit.

Your question units set which row of the [rate card](https://www.verasight.io/docs/run-your-study/pricing-and-payment#rate-card) applies.

We use the counts to estimate how long your survey takes, which keeps the study fair to panelists. They do not have to be exact, so do your best. If you are unsure how to count something, email research@verasight.io.

## Quotas and screen-outs

Your survey cannot contain quotas or screen-outs.

A screen-out based on someone's answers, for example ending the survey for respondents of one party, is not supported. To reach a specific group, choose a sample type that selects respondents before they reach your survey, such as [Targeted Demographics](https://www.verasight.io/docs/run-your-study/choose-a-sample-type#targeted-demographics-selection).

Some studies need respondents who meet a condition, for example adults who visited a grocery store in the past three days. Those studies need [custom research](https://www.verasight.io/docs/run-your-study/choose-a-sample-type#custom-research).

You confirm both rules in Self-Serve in [Step 1: Configuration](https://www.verasight.io/docs/run-your-study/connect-your-survey#step-1-configuration).

## Consent

If your survey has a consent form that lets respondents opt out, send them to the [Do Not Consent to Participate redirect](https://www.verasight.io/docs/run-your-study/connect-your-survey#do-not-consent-to-participate).

## Attention checks and response quality

We run our own attention check. An attention check in your own survey is optional.

### Our attention check

Every self-serve respondent answers our attention check before your survey opens. It is one question drawn at random from a bank of questions:

- Panelists who pass it go on to your survey with [`surveyid` and `vsid`](https://www.verasight.io/docs/run-your-study/connect-your-survey#how-the-survey-link-and-redirects-work) in the link.
- Panelists who fail it are not sent to your survey and do not count toward your sample size.

You do not set up our attention check. It does not appear in your survey platform or your export.

### Your own attention check

If you use an attention check, it must come from our pre-approved list. Some attention checks unfairly penalize people, for example people with less formal education. We use the list to keep checks fair and to avoid removing someone who is only making a human error.

The list has five options. Use the wording exactly as it appears here.

#### Option 1

> The news preference test is simple. To show you are paying attention, select only "live TV."
>
> Based on the text you read above, which of the following news sources have you been asked to select?

1. Live TV (passing answer)
2. News websites
3. Social media
4. Podcasts
5. Other

#### Option 2

> The color preference test is simple. This is an attention check. Select only "blue" from the list below.
>
> Based on the instructions above, which color did we ask you to select?

1. Blue (passing answer)
2. Green
3. Red
4. Yellow

#### Option 3

> In this question, please select “agree” from the list below to show that you are paying attention.
>
> Which option have we asked you to select?

1. Agree (passing answer)
2. Neutral
3. Disagree

#### Option 4

> In this question, we just want to verify that you are a real person. In the list below, please select “healthcare.”
>
> Which of the following issues have you been asked to select?

1. Healthcare (passing answer)
2. Economy
3. Education
4. Jobs

#### Option 5

> Please indicate your response to the statement below.
>
> *I swim across the Atlantic Ocean to get to work every day.*

1. Strongly disagree (passing answer)
2. Disagree (passing answer)
3. Agree
4. Strongly agree

Send respondents who fail your check to the [Fail Attention Check redirect](https://www.verasight.io/docs/run-your-study/connect-your-survey#fail-attention-check).

### Completed responses

Only respondents who reach the [Completes redirect](https://www.verasight.io/docs/run-your-study/connect-your-survey#completes) are completed responses, and only completed responses count toward your sample size:

| What happened | In your data file | Counts toward your sample size |
|---|---|---|
| Failed our attention check | No (never reached your survey) | No |
| Declined your consent form | No | No |
| Failed your attention check | No | No |
| Started your survey but left before any redirect | No | No |
| Reached the Completes redirect | Yes | Yes |

Your survey export may still include respondents who did not reach the Completes redirect. To remove them, follow the steps in [Remove duplicate and incomplete responses](https://www.verasight.io/docs/data-and-methods/your-data-file#remove-duplicate-and-incomplete-responses).

Self-Serve has no way to reject or replace individual responses after delivery. If you believe responses are not genuine, email research@verasight.io with the `vsid` values.