Introduction to kiosk mode

Kiosk mode changes the survey-taking process so that it can be used in a public setting, like a reception area.

What changes with kiosk mode?

Kiosk mode differs from the standard survey-taking process in the following ways:

Timeout applies during the survey-taking process: Kiosk mode monitors active activity. If there is a one-minute period of inactivity during the survey-taking process, a pop-up will appear, notifying the participant that it will timeout in 30 seconds unless they decide to continue. When the timeout occurs, it clears the participant's responses and returns to the Welcome screen.

Thank you page returns to the Welcome page: When a participant completes the survey and generates the Thank you page, that page will automatically timeout and return to the Welcome page, ready for the next participant.

Back button on Thank You screen can’t be used to view results: If a participant completes their survey on a kiosk, and a new participant arrives at the kiosk before the timeout is reached, they won’t be able to view the previous participants responses – even if they try using the Back button. If ‘Back’ is selected before the timeout is reached, they’ll receive a message saying ‘You have already completed this survey’.

Shorter Welcome message: For a more tablet-friendly design and to encourage participation, the survey welcome message for kiosk mode needs to be shorter than the standard survey-taking message. You can edit the kiosk welcome message during the Communications step when you create your survey.
No 'Save for Later' feature: Participants taking the survey using a kiosk are not able to save their progress and complete it later. They must finish it in one go at the kiosk. This is to protect their privacy in a public setting.
No 'Email a copy of responses' feature: Participants taking the survey using a kiosk are not able to email themselves a copy of their responses when they complete the survey. This is to protect their privacy in a public setting.

How do I turn on kiosk mode?

Kiosk mode is turned on per survey. It will turn on when you generate a kiosk link.

To generate a kiosk link:

Go to My Surveys and find the survey you want to use on kiosks.
Select the Edit option.
Go to the Settings tab.
Turn on the Generate kiosk link toggle.
Go to the Communications tab. Edit the kiosk welcome message.
Go back to Settings and copy the Kiosk link.
Open the link in the browser of the kiosks.

What type of demographics do I need to use for kiosk mode?

If you want to use kiosk mode and capture demographic data, you must use self-select demographics. Self-select means the user will provide that information during the survey. For example, selecting their age group or ethnicity.

This is in contrast to surveys where you invite participants from your library. As your library usually contains the participant's demographic information, they don't need to re-enter it.

To enable self-select demographics when creating your survey:

Go to Step 4: Demographics.
Select the demographics you want to include in your survey by checking the circle to the left.
For each demographic, select the eye icon with the line through it. This will change the demographic from Invisible to Self-select.

How do I know if someone has taken the survey on a kiosk?

Participants who take the survey on a kiosk or via a public link will be listed as Anonymous Respondents in your participant tracking section. If you've enabled self-select demographics, each Anonymous Respondent will also have their associated demographics listed against their record.

To access the participant tracking section:

Go to My surveys.
Find your survey and check that the status is either Active or Closed.
Select the three dots on the card and then Participant tracking.

Tips for running surveys on a kiosk

Here are a few tips we've gathered to ensure your kiosk survey runs smoothly:

Edit the kiosk browser settings: Set your survey Welcome page as the default landing page when opening the browser or a new tab.
Check the kiosk or tablet is charged: Do this at the start of each day and make sure that the survey Welcome page is open and ready to use.
Disable the screen auto-lock: Ensure the device will be ready for each user after a period of inactivity by disabling screen auto-lock.
Restrict the sites and disable the kiosk home button: Keep survey takers focused and ensure the device is used for the correct purpose by restricting sites that can be accessed and navigation options.
Disable browser extensions: Avoid potential disruption during the survey-taking process by disabling any external browser extensions.
Promote the survey: Encourage staff to promote the survey and use signage to direct people to the kiosk. Learn more about promoting your survey
Decide the best place for the kiosk: Aim for somewhere with plenty of traffic, like a reception or waiting area. Don’t be afraid to change the kiosk location and test other spaces.
Clean the kiosk regularly: Apart from maintaining hygienic conditions, it also keeps the device screen clear and easy to operate.