FAQs

Below you will find some basic information where we hope to answer some of your preliminary questions. More information is available in the STPE Site User Guide (pdf)

Who Should You Cite?

Seib, Drew, Anand E. Sokhey, and Todd Makse. 2026. "Talking Politics Research: An Online Platform for Designing Social Process Tracing Experiments."

Is there Pre-Populated Data for the Campaign Information Board?/h2>

Yes, we have sample campaign board information that you can use or edit.

I used the SPTE in my project. Can the citation for it be included on the Publications page?

Yes! Just use the contact form in the right hand navigation to send us the citation. We will review it and add it as soon as we are ble.

What about surveys?

Yes, you have the ability to create three survey blocks, which are need for a SPTE. The survey block correspond with a pre-survey, a mid-survey, and a post survey. We currently support the following questions types, with some question branching: radio (select one answer), checkbock, short text, long text, ranking, slider, and plain text (e.g. directions). In addition, we have a special built-in question for an egonet name generator and radio, text, and check box questions types that work in conjunction with the name generator. The platform will generate a pdf codebook of your survey.

Is there a codebook?

Yes, the platform will generate a codebook that includes variable names, description, and the coding scheme for each variable in your survey. It will also include the variable names and descriptions of summary search variables the site can compile for you. Here is a Sample Codebook.

Can I integrate an external Qualtrics survey with my study?

Pre-Survey on Qualtrics to Talking Politics Research

Create your survey in Qualtrics.
Create a hidden variable called "participantid" that gets passed via URL to your study on this site
Copy your study URL form the dashboard and add "&participantid=${e://Field/ResponseID}" to the end of your URL.
Use this URL in Qualtrics to send to this site

Talking Politics Research back to a Qualtrics Post Survey

In the survey flow tab of your Qualtrics survey, select add new element and then embedded data.
Add a field for "participantid." Do not set a value.
Move this block to the top of your survey flow. This allows Qualtrics to capture the particpantid value for your participant as they enter Qualtrics.
Publish your survey
Copy your Qualtics survey link.
In the Dashboard, in the Organize card, select Qualtrics indicate where in your project order you want your participant directed to your Qualtrics survey and save your selections.
Then back on the Dashboard under the Edit a Survey or Tool, select Qualtrics and past the link to your qualtrics survey.

Can I use Images?

Yes! Once on the dashboard, there is a card for for Update/Add Information Board Content. Click on the button inside that card. Once inside the content editor, you can add a new row or edit an existing row. On the editing page toward the bottom, there is an option for uploading images. Currently, the platform supports JPG, PNG, or GIF with a max file side of 2MB

Can I use Video?

Yes! You can imbed video from Vimeo. There is not sufficient space on this server to upload videos and services such as Vimeo will have greater bandwith for playback. Vimeo permits a more professional feel and more control. Keep in mind that some browsers do not permit a video to automatically start playing when it is loaded. While some browsers like Chrome permit autoplay, they will mute autoplay videos. You will have to depend on the user clicking play or unmuting. The DPTE can keeps track of when the person hits the play button on the video and will also record if the video play to the complete end. Here is a sample of the code you would paste from Vimeo to your campaign data Google Sheet.

<div style="padding:56.25% 0 0 0;position:relative;"><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/1164202245?badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" title="SampleVideo"></iframe></div><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script>

Can I Create Experimental Conditions on the Campaign Board?

Yes: Yes, experimental conditions can be created by building different versions of the campaign board and randomly assigning participants to one.

Is There a User Guide with More Information?

Yes, a comprehensive userguide is available and linked below

SPTE Site User Guide(PDF)

Site Updates and Maintenance

While we trying to keep the site functional, we do not monitor the site functionality on a regular basis. By using the site, the user is responsible for checking to make sure the program is functional and collecting data as anticipated.

From time to time, we may need to take the site down for maintenance. You will be notified via the email address associated with your account when this happens.