Hi,
Can the prolific platform pre-allocate a block of ID codes (ideally codes that do not conform to predictably incrementing patterns) so that I can ensure people without a code are not directed to form for annotation and foul up my research?
Essentially, I have a large number unique questions forms - each form to be annotated by 1 person only. A web-app takes a prolific id and returns a unique form link. My concern is that a bad actor could decide to provide successive non-sense id codes, waste forms and damage the design of my study.
Many Thanks,
Ryan
Hey @Ryan_Brate, welcome to the community! Glad you’re here 
Can the prolific platform pre-allocate a block of ID codes (ideally codes that do not conform to predictably incrementing patterns) so that I can ensure people without a code are not directed to form for annotation and foul up my research?
Unfortunately, our platform doesn’t have this capability. But, you could run a ‘pre-study’ to identify the IDs of the participants you’d like to take part. Then, using your survey software you could block anyone who does not input an ID which matches one on the list.
My concern is that a bad actor could decide to provide successive non-sense id codes, waste forms and damage the design of my study.
This is very unlikely to happen. The primary incentive to try to do a study multiple times would be getting paid multiple times. But, that would require multiple Prolific accounts. Using various measures like IP address checks, we make that very difficult to do. I wouldn’t worry too much, we do lots of things to ensure that bad actors don’t compromise studies 
Let me know if you have any other questions!
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