If you want to know how to get more studies on Prolific, the answer isn’t luck. I’ve been on Prolific since 2023 and have 513 approved studies. Right now, as I write this, I have 39 studies available.
The biggest complaint I see from new users is “I never get any studies.” Here’s exactly what I do to get studies every day, and what to avoid.
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Why You’re Not Getting Studies on Prolific
Researchers choose who can see their studies. They filter participants by age, location, education, finances, beliefs and hundreds of other details. If Prolific doesn’t know those details about you, you won’t match the filters, and you’ll never see those studies.
Studies also fill up fast. A good one can be gone within a minute. Getting more studies comes down to two things: matching more filters, and being there when studies go live.
How to Get More Studies on Prolific: 10 Tips
1. Complete your About you section
This is the most important tip. Your About you section is what researchers filter on, so every unanswered question is a study you might be missing.
I’ve answered about 95% of mine, 256 out of 270 questions.
This makes a real difference. I’ve completed all 28 Finance questions, and I got a study called “Financial Decision Making.” I’ve answered all 9 Beliefs questions, and I got a study called “Opinions and Beliefs.” If I’d only answered a handful, I probably wouldn’t have qualified for either.
2. Keep your profile updated
Your answers should match your life right now. When I graduated with my bachelor’s degree, I updated my Education section right away.
Prolific also adds new questions from time to time. That’s why a few of my sections show “Incomplete”. Those are new questions. Check back every few weeks and answer anything new.
3. Complete Behavioral Traits
In your About you section, there’s also a short Behavioral Traits questionnaire. It asks you to rate where your behavior falls on a scale. It takes about 2 minutes and gives researchers another way to match you to studies.
4. Keep the Prolific tab open
This is the main way I catch studies. I keep Prolific open in a browser tab and check it often. Good studies fill up within a minute, so being there when they go live matters more than anything else.
5. Sort studies by reward per hour
I sort my studies by Reward per hour: Highest first, so the best-paying studies are always at the top. I open those first.
For example, this 5-minute study pays $3.64, which works out to $43.25 an hour.
To see what you actually make per hour across all your studies, upload your history to my Prolific hourly rate calculator.
6. Keep both a computer and a phone nearby
Some studies only work on a computer, and some are phone-only. If you only use one device, you’ll miss the studies meant for the other. I do most of my studies on my laptop, but I keep my phone close by so I can grab phone-only studies too, especially the ones that pay well per hour.
7. Protect your approval rate
I’ve had just one rejection in over 500 studies. The main reason studies get rejected is failed attention checks, so when I take a study, I don’t multitask. My full focus is on the study.
A high approval rate matters, because some researchers only allow participants with high approval rates.
8. Return studies you can’t finish
If a study isn’t working, is taking too long, or you can’t finish it, return it instead of rushing through it. I’ve returned 117 studies, and my account is fine. A return isn’t a rejection.
9. Don’t lie on screeners
Some studies ask screening questions at the start. If you don’t qualify, you’re “screened out”, but you still get paid a small amount for your time. I’ve been screened out 18 times and was paid every single time.
There’s no reason to lie to get in. You get paid either way, and lying risks your account. Just move on to the next study.
10. Never use a VPN
Using a VPN on Prolific isn’t allowed. It can get your account flagged, and it isn’t worth the risk.
What About Follow-Up Studies?
Some researchers invite you back for more. There are two types:
- Optional follow-ups: a researcher invites you to a follow-up a week or a month later. If you skip it, nothing happens.
- Required multi-part studies: you have to complete every part to get the full payment. Only take these if you’re sure you can finish them.
Why Studies Slow Down in the Summer
For me, studies are available almost every day. The one exception is summer. A big share of Prolific studies comes from universities, and when school is out, those studies mostly disappear.
I barely use Prolific in the summer, because checking the tab all day isn’t worth it for so few studies. Expect a slowdown around summer break, and don’t assume something is wrong with your account.
What I Don’t Do
To be transparent, I skip studies that ask me to download software, because it’s a hassle. I mostly do text-based surveys, and I still get studies every day.
My Verdict: Can You Really Get More Studies on Prolific?
Yes. The biggest difference comes from completing your About You section, since that decides which studies you can see. After that, keep the tab open, sort by reward per hour, protect your approval rate, and don’t use a VPN.
Curious what it adds up to? Here’s how much you can make on Prolific.
New to Prolific? Start with my honest Prolific review. If you’re paid in pounds like I am, here’s how to convert GBP to USD in PayPal.
Want even more? Here’s how to get more studies on Prolific, CloudResearch Connect, Qmee and UserCrowd.
FAQ
Why am I not getting any studies on Prolific?
Usually because your About you section is incomplete, so you don’t match researchers’ filters. Studies also fill fast, and there are fewer during the summer.
Does returning a study hurt your account?
No. A return isn’t a rejection. I’ve returned 117 studies with no problems.
Do you get paid if you’re screened out on Prolific?
Yes, you get a partial payment. I’ve been screened out 18 times and was paid every time.
Can I use a VPN on Prolific?
No. Prolific doesn’t allow VPNs.
When are the most studies available on Prolific?
During the school year. Universities post a big share of Prolific studies, so there are far fewer available when school is out for the summer.
This article is for informational purposes only. Study availability and pay vary by person and location, and Prolific’s rules can change, so check Prolific’s help center for the latest details.
