Data Integrity and Security on Connect

Connect upholds the highest standards of participant anonymity and data security. Researchers and participants alike can trust in Connect's robust mechanisms designed to preserve the integrity of studies while ensuring transparent and ethical interactions. Our platform is constructed with strict adherence to data security guidelines. The following Q&A section provides insights into the fundamental aspects of Connect's operations and its commitment to the broader research community and may be useful for researchers in the process of submitting IRB/ethics boards requests. 

Q&A

Are Connect Participants Anonymous?

Every participant on Connect is assigned a unique ID, ensuring their anonymity. Connect IDs consist of a random string of numbers and letters. Connect does not collect any personally identifiable information, allowing participants to remain anonymous.

How Do Researchers Recruit and Communicate with Connect Participants?

All interactions between researchers and participants are confined to the Connect platform to ensure privacy and anonymity. Researchers list available tasks, and participants choose which ones to engage in. Any necessary communication occurs exclusively through Connect's internal messaging system, eliminating the need for direct emails and further safeguarding participants’ identities.

How Are Connect Participants Compensated? 

Participants receive payment from researchers to their Connect account. Participants can then cash out through their associated PayPal account, bank account, or Amazon Gift Card. 

To set up bank account transfers, participants must verify their identity through Stripe. Because this verification is done through a third-party and without invasive methods, we do not collect any personally identifiable information from participants in order for them to cash out via bank transfer. Participants can cash out to their linked bank account once they have at least $25 in their Connect account. 

PayPal payments are routed through PayPal which means Connect does not need personally identifiable information to pay participants. All PayPal payment data is stored by PayPal. You may find their privacy notice link(s) here: https://www.paypal.com/us/webapps/mpp/ua/privacy-full. Participants must have $5 in their Connect account to cash out to a PayPal. 

Amazon gift cards have no minimum account balance. As long as the participant has funds in their Connect account, they can withdraw their earnings to an Amazon gift card. They will receive a gift card claim code through Connect which they can add to their Amazon account or use for future purchases they make on Amazon. 

As per our Terms of Service, participants agree that it is their responsibility to determine any and all taxes and duties. 

Can I Reject Participant’s Submission While Still Paying Them for Their Effort? 

After a participant submits a study, researchers have three options: accept, reject, or reject and pay. The “reject and pay” option is included so researchers can signal to the participant and to the Connect system that their submission was inadequate, while still compensating them for their time. Some IRBs require that all participants receive payment, regardless of the effort they put in. This option allows for that. 

How Much Time Do Researchers Have for Processing Approvals and Rejections?

Approvals and rejections must be processed by the researcher within 14 days of each participant’s submission date/time. If a participant is left in the pending state for 14 days, on the 14th day, the system will automatically approve and pay them. Approvals cannot be reversed. However, rejections can always be reversed. Reversing a rejection will pay the participant and change their status to approved. 

How do Rejections Affect Participants?

Rejections on Connect may harm a participant’s reputation. Over time a participant who accrues many rejections may find there are few studies they qualify for or in severe cases the participant may have their account waitlisted. Because rejecting a participant’s study has a negative impact, researchers sometimes ask if there is a way to avoid paying participants without rejecting them. Unfortunately, the answer is no.

Are There Alternatives to Rejecting Participants?

In addition to the option of rejecting with pay (see above), if you are unable to reject participants based on IRB concerns, we have created a way to keep certain workers from taking your future studies. You can add participants to your personal Universal Exclude list. Participants placed on your Universal Exclude list will be ineligible for all of future studies when you choose to apply the list. You may also flag participants in Connect. You can input your reasoning for flagging, and we will investigate the participant(s). Participants who we find have violated our Terms of Service or have a record of providing researchers with low quality data will be removed from the site. 

How is Data Stored on Connect Secured and Protected?

Data gathered on Connect, including anonymous demographic information and account information, are secured and stored in accordance with best practices for data security. Our production databases are hosted in virtual private networks and are encrypted at rest. Data is transmitted securely through Transport Layer Security.

Does CloudResearch have access to Connect participants’ responses to researchers’ surveys?

No. CloudResearch does not have any access to data that is collected by researchers on Connect. All surveys must be hosted by researcher-owned accounts on platforms such as Qualtrics or SurveyMonkey that are accessed through the researchers’ own log-in information.

Where is the data stored/retained?

Data are collected through researcher-owned accounts on survey platforms such as Qualtrics or SurveyMonkey. CloudResearch does not have access to these data. Researchers should check with the survey platform of their choice to see how data is stored and retained.