Survey Builder lets you create a survey directly inside Prolific and collect responses from participants, all in one integrated workflow. Instead of linking out to an external survey tool, you can write your questions, add supporting content, and collect responses without leaving the platform.
It works for any study where you want a custom, structured survey without leaving Prolific.
Create a new survey
Go to Survey Builder in the left-hand menu
Click Create a new survey
Enter a name for your survey, such as "Product feedback survey" — you can change this later
Click Continue
You'll then be asked to add your survey introduction and instructions. Participants see these before they start, so use them to set expectations.
Add a survey introduction to summarize what the survey covers
Add survey instructions to provide clear, detailed instructions for respondents
Click Next
Design your survey
Once you've named your survey, you'll land in Survey Builder, ready to add pages, questions, and any supporting content participants need to respond accurately.
Pages
Your survey can span multiple pages. Each page can contain a mix of questions and content blocks, so you can build the exact flow you need. Click Add a page to start a new page, and repeat until your survey is complete.
Question types
Questions are what participants respond to. Choose from the following types:
Multiple selection: Participants pick one or more answers from a list you provide
Free text: Open-ended text response
Free text with unit: Text response with a unit attached, for example minutes, hours, or days
Multiple selection with free text: Multiple choice with a free text field attached to each answer option, so participants can add detail to whichever option they select
File upload: Lets participants upload a file, with control over file count, size, and accepted formats
Content blocks
Content blocks let you add supporting material between questions, without asking participants to respond. Use them to add rich text, such as context, instructions, or a closing note, or an image added via a link. If you'd rather format your text directly, the rich text field also accepts Markdown and HTML.
Preview your survey
Before you publish, always check how your survey looks to a participant.
Click Preview as participant to open the participant-facing version of your survey
Click through each page using Next and Back to test the flow, exactly as a participant would experience it
Close the preview and return to the builder to make any adjustments
Save and publish your survey
When you're happy with your survey, click Save & exit to save your progress and return later, or click Save & set up study to move straight into the study setup flow, where you'll confirm your settings before publishing.
Once published, your survey will appear in Survey Builder, alongside any others you've created. You can also reuse the same survey across multiple studies to reach different audiences and analyze results separately.
Tips for a great survey
Use content blocks to give participants clear context before each question, as this reduces confusion and improves response quality
Always preview before publishing to catch any formatting issues or unclear questions
Keep your survey introduction and instructions short and specific, so participants know exactly what to expect