While Designing your Indeemo Project, it's important to plan your task lists. 


Draft directly in your Indeemo Dashboard 

or

Download a Task List template here: The Task List Template



There are 3 steps to planning your task lists:

  1. Group your questions into 'Tasks'
  2. Group your tasks into Task Lists
  3. How you will release these tasks to your respondents. 

Group your questions into 'Tasks'

A 'task' is an activity or series of questions bundled together. 

These can include video responses, open-ended questions, diary-style reflections, photo uploads and more.

(See 'Design Great tasks' below)

Grouping your Tasks into Task Lists


Plan tasks before inviting participants

  • Once participants start, major changes to tasks can cause confusion and inconsistencies in the data.


Task lists can be shared

 If multiple groups will complete the same activities, they can be assigned the same task list rather than duplicating it.



Task List Type: Choosing how tasks are released 

While creating your task list, you will need to choose the 'Task List Type'. That is, how the tasks will be released to respondents. 


There are 4 options - choose 1 option per task list. 





1. All at Once Tasking

Should you use "All at Once" tasking?

  • Do you want respondents to have the flexibility to complete tasks in their own time and order?

  • Are you comfortable with respondents potentially working on tasks out of sequence?

What is "All at Once" tasking?

This method allows respondents to see and complete all tasks immediately after logging into the app. They can choose the order in which they complete the tasks, providing maximum flexibility.

  • Freedom and Flexibility: Respondents are free to tackle tasks in any order they prefer.

  • Ideal for Time-sensitive Projects: If you want respondents to complete tasks without being constrained by a strict schedule or sequence, this method is the most flexible.

This approach is ideal for projects where time is less of a concern, and you want to empower respondents to manage their own pace.

2. Scheduled Tasking

Should you use "Scheduled" tasking?

  • Are you concerned about overwhelming respondents with too many tasks at once?

  • Do you need tasks to be linked to a specific timeline?

What is "Scheduled" tasking?

Scheduled tasking releases tasks to respondents at specific dates and times. Even if respondents haven't completed previous tasks, they will still receive new tasks based on your schedule.

  • Prevent Overwhelm: If you have many tasks, this approach helps break them up into manageable chunks and sends notifications to remind respondents when new tasks are available.

  • Time-Specific Tasks: Ideal for tasks tied to specific events or times, such as completing a survey after a particular event or viewing content during a scheduled period.

Task End Dates:
Tasks can also be set to disappear from respondents’ lists once the end date passes. However, we recommend avoiding end dates as they can limit the window for data collection. If you must use them, set a reasonable duration (e.g., 24 hours or longer) to avoid limiting response rates.

3. Sequential Tasking

Should you use "Sequential" tasking?

  • Do you need respondents to complete tasks in a specific order?

  • Do you want to control the flow of tasks and ensure they are completed one step at a time?

What is "Sequential" tasking?

Sequential tasking restricts respondents from viewing or completing tasks until they’ve finished the current one. This method ensures that each respondent works through the tasks in the exact order you’ve designed.

There are two types of sequential tasking:

  • Sequential Tasking: Immediate 

    • Tasks are released one at a time. Once a respondent finishes a task, the next task is unlocked.

    • Notifications are sent to remind respondents when the next task is available.

    • If a respondent doesn't meet the minimum requirements for a task, they won’t be able to access the next one.

  • Sequential Tasking: "No sooner than"

    •  Same as Type 1, but in addition, tasks can scheduled to start on specific days.

    • Respondents must complete each task in the scheduled order before receiving the next one.

    • Both task completion and the scheduled release time must align before the next task is unlocked.

When to use Sequential Tasking?

Sequential tasking is the most rigid of the three methods, but it’s also the best option when you need a strict order. For example, it’s ideal for projects where respondents must follow a prescribed flow, such as completing a survey with dependent questions or taking part in a step-by-step process

Summary: Which Method Should You Choose?

  • All at Once Tasking is the most flexible and gives respondents full control over their tasks. Best when you want them to complete tasks at their own pace without restrictions.

  • Scheduled Tasking is useful when you have many tasks and need to space them out over time or when tasks are tied to specific events or times.

  • Sequential Tasking is the most rigid method and should only be used if task completion must occur in a particular order, or when a strict sequence is necessary for your research.

Task List Tips

Please find some useful tips here: Tips to include in the task list





All at Once Task Type (video)



Scheduled Task Type (video)







Sequential Task Type


Design Great Tasks

Less is definitely more! Your tasks should be light touch, easy to understand and clearly explained. 

Ideally, a task should fit within the screen of a smartphone to avoid too much scrolling.

Multiple smaller tasks are better than fewer essay-like tasks.


Information 'trade-off' 

The more questions you compile into one task, the more likely it is that respondents will submit shorter answers for each question within that task. 

  • Therefore, the more important a question is, the more it warrants being in a separate task.


Think MOBILE first

  • Mobile Ethnography works best with short, open ended tasks.
  • Make it easy for respondents to understand the task and quickly complete it.
  • Ideally tasks should be entirely visible within the screen.


Put yourself in the Respondent’s shoes

  • When writing each task, think about it from the respondent’s perspective.
  • How easy will it be for them to understand what they need to do?
  • The simpler the task, the higher the completion rate.

Always be context aware

  • Think about where the respondent will be when completing each task.
  • E.g. if the topic is personal or sensitive, tell them to find a private place to record their video without worrying about anyone over hearing them.
  • In public locations, they may be more comfortable uploading photos captions instead of videos.

Choose an appropriate Required Response

  • The best Task Lists typically have a mixture of Video, Photo, Screen Recording and Note based tasks.
  • Video is powerful at capturing in-context behaviors and in the moment feelings but it takes times to analyse. Sometimes a Note is better if you just need them to answer a few questions.
  • Where photos / screenshots with short captions are sufficient to detail what you want to capture, specify these instead of video. It will save you time in analysis!

 

Let the Respondents surprise you & give them permission to go off-piste!

  • The more open ended you can make your tasks, the more likely Respondents will surprise you.
  • Projects where respondents are allowed flexibility / creativity typically tend to be the most informative and the most successful at uncovering hidden needs and unexpected behaviors.