The only thing to consider when completing any survey is that the researcher reviews your completion before releasing the funds into your account.  This is a way of authorising that they have got what they needed from your responses and you haven’t rushed it.

Get rejected will affect what they call your Prolific Score

Watch Your Prolific Score

Everyone starts out with a prolific score of 100.  If you are getting rejected from Researchers, you lose the money you were supposed to receive, and you also lose some of that score.

Unfortunately, some people get into that mindset that “the quicker I complete the surveys, the more money I will earn”.  This takes away the mindset, because this is scientific research and the people behind them really care.  There needs to be an element of integrity, and this score system is a good feature in my mind.

The researchers do in a sense have the power over whether they pay you or not, but throughout the surveys I have completed, there are none that were too difficult, and the researchers paid out quite quickly too.

It is also worthwhile to mention that if the researcher does not approve it within 21 days, it is auto-authorised.  So at most you might wait 21 days for the money to clear.

There are those who like to complete surveys because it gives them something to do, not necessarily about the money and Prolific caters for this with the option to give it to charity.

Weekdays you will see quite a few surveys dropdown, do not expect to see any the weekend.  This kind of works with universities, so I expect the holidays will impact this too.

How Do You Get Paid?

Once researchers have approved your funds, it appears in your Prolific Dashboard.  The threshold to withdraw your money is £5, but you will pay fees at this level.  But if you wait until £20, there are no fees.

They offer payment via PayPal or Circle.

If you are withdrawing below £20, the fees are:

Circle – 1% + 10p fee

PayPal – 2.9% +20p fee

Payments will be made either Tuesday or Friday.  My advice would be is wait until £20.  I found it didn’t take that long to make that much.

Referral Program

You can earn commissions by referring your friends and family, much like Swagbucks offers.  You are provided with a referral link and as long as they use that link, register and complete a survey you get a reward.  The amount varies, depending on how many surveys they complete.