Multimedia is a Task Type that allows for the collection of text, photos, videos, screen recordings, audio, and files from the participant in a single task response. Any combination of requirements can be configured.
If set as Required, a minimum of one word or one media file must be provided by the participant in order to proceed. However, these minimum requirements can be customized as needed.
During a Multimedia Task setup, simply switch on the desired Response Types (i.e. Text, Photos, Videos, Audio, Screen Recording and Files) based on what your question calls for. You can then customize each selected type based on the presented options and even enforce a total attachment limit.
Watch the interactive walkthrough below for an overview of the Multimedia Task type.
Text Response Type
Enabling a Text response as part of your Multimedia Task (or selecting Text from the Task Type menu) provides participants with an open ended text box on the Task's page during completion.
You can add verbiage that will appear directly above the text box (but still separate from your Questions or Instructions) using the Customize prompt option. You can also have the text box Display below attachments if desired - this setting is useful if your question stresses the media upload portion before responding to additional questions.
You can also choose to Allow text formatting (useful if you want people to be able to use emojis in their response) as well as enforce a minimum and / or maximum word count.
If you’d like to ensure participants provide a text response, enable the Response required setting.
Media Response Types
When you enable Photos, Videos, or Audio as response types in your Multimedia Task (or select one of these from the Task Type menu), participants will see large Add Photo, Add Video, and/or Record Audio buttons on their task page. Participants can upload a photo / video / audio file from their device, capture media directly within the Task. For Photo responses, participants can also search and choose from the photo library when that option is enabled.
When the Video, Audio, or Screen Recording response type options are enabled, the video/audio capture is embedded directly in the page so instructions stay visible while recording.
Here’s how each response type works and the options available to customize the experience.
Photo Responses
Participants can respond with photos by using the Add Photo button. There are multiple configurations you can set for photo responses:
Limit Photo Quantity: Use the Limit quantity option to set the minimum and maximum photo submissions required for the task. These limits will be shown to participants.
Customize Stock Photo Access:
Disable Stock Photos: If you want participants to upload their own photos, disable the Allow stock photo search option.
Stock Photos Only: To restrict participants to only use stock photos, enable Limit to stock photo search only. This will remove the option to upload personal photos.
Allow Descriptions: You can allow or require participants to provide descriptions for each photo. Customize the prompt for these descriptions using the Customize prompt option.
Photo response uploads should be .jpg, .png, .gif, etc.
Video Responses
Participants can submit videos using the Add Video button. There are several configurations for video submissions:
Limit Video Quantity: Use the Limit quantity option to specify the minimum and maximum number of videos required to complete the task.
Set Duration Limits: Use the Limit duration option to specify the minimum and maximum length of video uploads.
Limit to Uploaded Videos Only: Enable the Limit to uploaded videos only option to disable the integrated webcam recorder and ensure participants are only able to upload existing files.
Allow Descriptions: You can enable descriptions for each video response and make them required if necessary. The Customize prompt option lets you modify the description prompt.
Allow Participants to Disable Camera: By default, participants must keep their cameras enabled when recording with the integrated webcam. Use the Allow participants to disable their camera during recording to provide flexibility if desired.
Note: The webcam recorder allows participants to blur their backgrounds for additional privacy.
Video response uploads should be file types such as .mp4, .mov, .avi, etc.
Audio Responses
Participants can provide audio responses by selecting the Record Audio button. Here’s how each configuration works:
Limit Audio Quantity: Use the Limit quantity option to set a minimum and maximum number of audio submissions required.
Set Duration Limits: You can set minimum and maximum duration limits for each audio recording.
Allow Descriptions: Enable descriptions for audio responses if needed, with an option to make them required. Use Customize prompt to personalize the description prompt text.
By setting limits, customizing prompts, and controlling media options, you can create a smooth, tailored multimedia experience for your participants.
Screen Recording Responses
The Screen Recording response type is similar to the other media response types in that you can use the custom limits, descriptions and customized prompt options. A warning always appears to highlight the fact that participant must use a supported web browser to create a screen recording. Learn more about screen recordings.
Screen recording requires a supported desktop browser—Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, or Apple Safari—and is not supported on mobile devices.
File Responses
The Files response type option (or selecting Files from the Task Type menu) is ideal if you're looking to have people upload media that is not a photo or video. Maybe your project involves building something externally and then uploading it to Recollective (e.g. PowerPoint file).
Limit File Quantity: Use the Limit quantity option to specify the minimum and maximum number of file uploads to complete the task.
Set File Size Limits: Use the Limit file size option to control the minimum and maximum size allowed for uploads.
Allow Descriptions: You can enable descriptions for each file response and make them required if necessary. The Customize prompt option lets you modify the description prompt.
Enforcing Overall Limits
If your Multimedia Task provides participants with multiple ways to respond to the question, the Limits section on the setup page offers the ability to enforce a minimum and / or maximum total attachment limit. Imagine a question whereby participants can either respond in a video OR photos (possibly with an additional text component).
In a case like this, you don't want to have a minimum value set for both photo and video Response Types as participants will then be forced to add both. Instead, you want to use the Enforce total attachment limit to set a response requirement and still offer the choice of attachment type.
For more information on how you can leverage the Multimedia Task type within your research, make sure to check out our Spotlight: Multimedia Task blog article.
Additional Settings
As with other Task types in Recollective, researchers can take advantage of several additional setting options when configuring a Multimedia task:
Completion Requirement: Beneath the task name, the Required Task toggle determines whether the task is mandatory. When enabled, participants must complete the task. When disabled, the task is optional and can be skipped. For optional tasks, the Ask for reason if skipped setting is available to prompt participants to provide a reason when skipping the task.
Block Pasting: To discourage participants from using generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT) to complete tasks, admins can enable Block pasting of external content. This prevents participants from pasting text copied from outside sources into their responses.
AI Media Detection: When enabled, Recollective can detect potential use of AI-generated or manipulated photos and videos in multimedia tasks and generate a Data Integrity Alert for review.
Point Customization: If the Points feature is enabled for the study, admins can enable Customize points awarded for task completion to assign a custom point value. The custom value can be set higher or lower than the default points awarded for the task type.
Task Visibility: Admins can restrict which participants are permitted to view and complete the task. Task Visibility settings can be used to limit access based on a participant segment, previous task responses, previous task completion, or overall activity completion.
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