Participant devices

Which tests run on phones, tablets and computers

Desktops and laptops can run every test. 17 untimed tests also run on tablets, and 15 of them on phones. Timed tests need a desktop or laptop with a mouse or trackpad.

See every test Recruitment setup guides

Computers

tests

Tablets

tests

Phones

tests

Why timed tests need a mouse or trackpad

27 of the 47 tests are timed. Their scores come from response times, or from stimuli shown for a fraction of a second, such as a 100 ms cue. Participants answer with keyboard keys or mouse clicks, in full screen. The device check runs these tests only on a desktop or laptop whose main pointer is a mouse or trackpad, so every participant's times come from the same kind of setup. A touchscreen laptop in laptop mode qualifies; a 2-in-1 folded into tablet mode does not.

Untimed tests score accuracy, choices or recall. 17 of the 20 untimed tests have on-screen answers and also run on tablets.

Percentiles come only from sessions on a desktop or laptop with a mouse or trackpad. Phone and tablet sessions keep their scores and quality flags. How norms work

The device check comes before consent

Every study checks the participant's device against all of its tests before the consent form.

On the open study link, the check runs on the start page. If the device cannot run every test, the Start button stays disabled and no participant record is created.
On a participant link, a device that cannot run the study sees the device check in place of the consent form.
The message names the device, says what to use instead, and offers a button to copy the study link.
Phones must be held upright. The check runs again when the phone turns.
On the open study link, a person counts toward your participant limit, or uses a credit, only when they agree to the consent form, so a person stopped by the device check is not counted. Participants you add yourself count when you add them.

Device check

This device can't be used for this study

This device: Phone

This study includes timed tasks, which run only on a desktop or laptop computer with a mouse or trackpad. Open this link on a computer.

Open the same study link on another device.

Copy study link

Example: what a phone shows for a study with a timed test, in the participant page's own words.

Messages participants can see

When	Message
A phone or tablet opens a study with a timed test	This study includes timed tasks, which run only on a desktop or laptop computer with a mouse or trackpad. Open this link on a computer.
A computer whose main pointer is not a mouse or trackpad, such as a 2-in-1 in tablet mode, opens a study with a timed test	Timed tasks need a desktop or laptop with a mouse or trackpad. If you use a 2-in-1 laptop, switch it back to laptop mode.
A phone or tablet opens a study with a test answered with keys	Some tasks in this study are answered with keyboard keys. Open this link on a desktop or laptop computer.
A phone opens a study with a test that needs a tablet	Some tasks in this study need a larger screen than a phone has. Open this link on a tablet or a computer.
A tablet or phone screen is smaller than a test needs	This screen is too small for the tasks in this study. Use a device with a larger screen, such as a tablet or a computer.
A phone is held sideways	Turn your phone upright to start, and keep it upright during the tasks.
A device without a touchscreen opens a study with Clock Drawing on its standard settings	This Clock Drawing protocol requires a stylus or direct-touch screen.
A browser other than Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari	Use a current version of Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari.

Device rules for every test

Each test's rule comes from how it is answered and scored. A study accepts the devices that all of its tests allow.

Phones, tablets and computers

Untimed tests with on-screen answers that fit a phone held upright.

Tablets and computers

Untimed tests whose screens need a tablet-size display.

Computers only, untimed

Untimed tests answered with keyboard keys.

Computers with a mouse or trackpad

Timed tests. Their scores depend on response times or brief displays.

Test	Timing	Desktop or laptop	Tablet	Phone	Smallest tablet or phone screen
Phones, tablets and computers
Balloon Risk	Untimed	Yes	Yes	Yes	360 × 640 pixels
Category Fluency	Untimed	Yes	Yes	Yes	360 × 640 pixels
Corsi Block-Tapping Test	Untimed	Yes	Yes	Yes	360 × 640 pixels
Delay Discounting	Untimed	Yes	Yes	Yes	360 × 640 pixels
Delayed Recall Module	Untimed	Yes	Yes	Yes	360 × 640 pixels
Digit Span Test	Untimed	Yes	Yes	Yes	360 × 640 pixels
Iowa Gambling Lite	Untimed	Yes	Yes	Yes	360 × 640 pixels
Matrix Reasoning	Untimed	Yes	Yes	Yes	360 × 640 pixels
Operation Span	Untimed	Yes	Yes	Yes	360 × 640 pixels
Paired Associate Learning	Untimed	Yes	Yes	Yes	360 × 640 pixels
Probabilistic Reversal Learning	Untimed	Yes	Yes	Yes	360 × 640 pixels
Short Story Recall	Untimed	Yes	Yes	Yes	360 × 640 pixels
Tower Planning	Untimed	Yes	Yes	Yes	360 × 640 pixels
Verbal Fluency	Untimed	Yes	Yes	Yes	360 × 640 pixels
Verbal Learning	Untimed	Yes	Yes	Yes	360 × 640 pixels
Tablets and computers
Clock Drawing Task	Untimed	Yes (touchscreen or stylus *)	Yes	No	700 × 900 pixels
One-Touch Tower Planning	Untimed	Yes	Yes	No	600 × 900 pixels
Computers only, untimed
Delayed Match-to-Sample	Untimed	Yes	No	No	Computers only
Pattern Recognition Memory	Untimed	Yes	No	No	Computers only
Spatial Recognition Memory	Untimed	Yes	No	No	Computers only
Computers with a mouse or trackpad
1-Back Task	Timed	Yes	No	No	Computers only
2-Back Task	Timed	Yes	No	No	Computers only
Affective Go/No-Go	Timed	Yes	No	No	Computers only
Change Detection	Timed	Yes	No	No	Computers only
Choice Reaction Time	Timed	Yes	No	No	Computers only
Continuous Performance Test	Timed	Yes	No	No	Computers only
Dimensional Change Card Sort	Timed	Yes	No	No	Computers only
Eriksen Flanker Task	Timed	Yes	No	No	Computers only
Go/No-Go Task	Timed	Yes	No	No	Computers only
Intra/Extra Dimensional Set Shift	Timed	Yes	No	No	Computers only
Mental Rotation	Timed	Yes	No	No	Computers only
Posner Cueing	Timed	Yes	No	No	Computers only
Psychomotor Vigilance Task	Timed	Yes	No	No	Computers only
Rapid Visual Information Processing	Timed	Yes	No	No	Computers only
Recognition Memory Test	Timed	Yes	No	No	Computers only
Serial Reaction Time	Timed	Yes	No	No	Computers only
Simon Task	Timed	Yes	No	No	Computers only
Simple Reaction Time	Timed	Yes	No	No	Computers only
Spatial Working Memory	Timed	Yes	No	No	Computers only
Stop-Signal Task	Timed	Yes	No	No	Computers only
Stroop Color-Word Test	Timed	Yes	No	No	Computers only
Sustained Attention to Response	Timed	Yes	No	No	Computers only
Symbol Coding	Timed	Yes	No	No	Computers only
Task Switching Test	Timed	Yes	No	No	Computers only
Trail Making Test A	Timed	Yes	No	No	Computers only
Trail Making Test B	Timed	Yes	No	No	Computers only
Visual Search Test	Timed	Yes	No	No	Computers only

Tablet and phone screens are measured on their short and long edges.

* Clock Drawing's standard settings accept only a stylus or a finger, so a computer needs a touchscreen. Yearly plans can change the setting to allow a mouse.

Browsers and screens

Participants need Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari. The device check stops other browsers.
Desktops and laptops need a screen of at least 1024 by 700 pixels. Below 1280 by 800, the participant sees a note that a larger screen is recommended.
The phone tests need a screen of at least 360 by 640 pixels, held upright.
Studies with a timed test run in full screen, so the browser must allow it.
The study tab must be in front when a session starts.

Tell participants which device to use

Put the device in your study listing. A study with any timed test needs a desktop or laptop with a mouse or trackpad. A study whose tests all run on phones can take phones, and one whose tests all run on tablets can take tablets.

The recruitment setup guides show where to state the device requirement on Prolific, Sona Systems and CloudResearch Connect.

Device type in your data

Score exports record each session's device type (quality_device_type: desktop, tablet or phone). Trial exports add device_type, device_class, input_type, screen_width and screen_height. Compare scores within a device type. Typing on a phone keyboard is slower, and some phone keyboards suggest words, which matters for the fluency tests. Research data export

Questions about participant devices

Can participants take part on a phone?

Yes, for untimed tests: 15 untimed tests run on phones and 17 on tablets. Timed tests need a desktop or laptop with a mouse or trackpad. A phone that cannot run every test in a study is stopped before the consent form. On an open study link, that person is not counted and uses no credit.

Why can't timed tests run on a tablet?

Their scores depend on response times or on stimuli shown for a fraction of a second. The device check runs them only on a desktop or laptop whose main pointer is a mouse or trackpad, so every participant's times come from the same kind of setup.

What does a participant see on the wrong device?

The device check names the device and says what to use instead, for example: "This study includes timed tasks, which run only on a desktop or laptop computer with a mouse or trackpad. Open this link on a computer." A Copy study link button helps them open the same link on another device.

Does a person stopped by the device check use a credit?

Not on the open study link: a person counts toward your participant limit, or uses a credit, only when they agree to the consent form, and the device check comes first. Participants you add yourself count when you add them.

Which browsers work?

Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari. The device check stops other browsers.

Can I keep a study on computers only?

There is no study setting for that. A study accepts every device that all of its tests allow, so state the device you want in your recruitment listing.

Do percentiles work on phones and tablets?

No. A percentile needs a desktop or laptop with a mouse or trackpad and a supported browser. Phone and tablet sessions keep their scores and quality flags.

Every test with its scores: the full test list.

Check your study's devices

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