Unmoderated testing with Lookback: SelfTest

How to set up an unmoderated SelfTest round of research in Lookback

Russ Troester avatar
Written by Russ Troester
Updated this week

A SelfTest is an unmoderated test that the participant carries out at a time of their choice. 

You can invite participants to carry out a SelfTest at their convenience by sending them the SelfTest Participant Link.

How to create a SelfTest Round in your dashboard

  1. If you already have a Project created, you can skip to step 2. Otherwise, start by clicking the + New Project on your dashboard

  2. Click New Round in your existing Project

  3. Choose SelfTest

  4. To change the Round description – click the pencil icon ✏️ (top right) to name (or describe) your round. Once you've entered it, press the Enter/Return key on your keyboard. Note: the description is just to help you and your team identify the round. Your participants will not see it.

  5. Set the Welcome Message (optional) for participants

    • This is shown to the participants before they start a session and allows you to explain the context of the session, add links to external consent forms, and add any explanations needed to help your participant through setup & instructions

    🚀 ProTip! You can use Markdown formatting to format the text for your Welcome Message, Scenario, Task Instructions, and Final Message.

  6. Localisation choose the language your participant will experience when running a session. Click here to see the list of languages currently supported by Lookback.

  7. Transcription language (required) - choose the language your participant will be speaking to help aid the auto-transcription when the session is finished.

  8. Device requirements use this option if you want to limit your participant to using a particular type of device. You can also choose to disable the Extension-free Beta (enabled on all new rounds by default)

  9. Hide controls on Mobile browsers - when selected, we will attempt to hide the navigation and address controls on mobile browsers to better simulate a full-screen experience (especially useful when testing mobile prototypes).

  10. Participant camera

    1. Optional. The participant can choose whether or not they want to enable the camera for their session. They will not be able to change it once the session has started.

    2. Required. A camera must be selected before starting the session.

    3. Disabled. The participant will not be given the option to use their camera

  11. Session Limit (optional) - sometimes it's helpful to over-recruit participants for a study because life happens and sometimes participants sign up but don't show up. By setting the session limit, you can invite as many people as you want but only the first X participants will be able to do the study. For example: if you set the limit to 10 and invite 20 people, only the first 10 people who do the study will be able to complete it. Anyone after that will get a message that the study is no longer available.

  12. Add a Final Message (optional) for participants

    • This message is shown to Participants after they have completed the final task of the session.

    • It allows you to thank the participant for his/her time and/or add links to an external (post-session) survey.

  13. Click Save at the top right.

  14. Click Next and you'll be taken to a page with the Participant Link. Click Copy link to copy the link and paste it into your invitation.

    Please note: the link can also be found later in the project dashboard



On the Participant's Side

When a participant clicks on the SelfTest Participant Link, they may be prompted to install our Participate app (for mobile) or the Chrome extension if you're not using the extension free beta. This collection of help articles will walk them through the steps they need to get up and running!


Find your completed SelfTest Sessions

  • Once a participant completes a SelfTest, you'll find a recording of the session, under the relevant Round

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