Creating Segments

You can use segments to create distinct groups of participants in your study. You can create groups that respond in different languages, enter your study at different times, and / or have different sets of activities. There is no limit to the number of segments you can have in a study.

To configure your study, select Settings>Project Settings in the navigation menu. Here you can define basic settings, obscure profile PII, add terms and conditions, add team members, and define segments and schedules.

1:  Accessing Segments

To access your project’s segments, click Project Settings under Settings and scroll down to the “Segments” section.

2:  Viewing Segments

The “Segments” section features the following tools to help you manage your project’s participant segments.

1. Name:  The segment name.

2. Identification Color:  The color used to identify the segment throughout the platform. This color is automatically applied upon segment creation, but can be changed. See 2. Identification Color:  The color used to identify the segment throughout the platform. This color is automatically applied upon segment creation, but can be changed. See 3.2:  Editing a Segment below to learn more. below to learn more.

3. Segment Contact:  The email address for the researcher assigned to the segment. The segment contact receives messages from participants in that segment. Only one email address can be assigned as Segment Contact per segment.

4. Start & End Dates:  The segment’s start and end dates.

5. Language:  The primary language for the segment's participant interface. See Forsta Plus Digital Diaries System Requirements for a list of languages that Forsta Plus Digital Diaries supports.

Note:  Participant responses are not translated by Forsta Plus Digital Diaries.

6. Manage:  Options to edit or delete the segment.

7. Click here to add a new segment...:  Select this link to add a new segment.

3:  Managing Segments

3.1:  Creating a Segment

To create a segment, click the phrase Click here to add a new segment..., below your project’s existing segments. Enter a name for the segment, as well as its contact name, start and end dates, and primary language. Then click Add.

3.2:  Editing a Segment

To edit a segment, click Edit for that segment under the “Manage” column. You can change the following segment properties:

• Segment Name:  Rename the segment.
• Segment Color:  Change the color assigned to the segment.
• Segment Contact:  Change the researcher who is assigned to this segment. This person will receive all notices about participant messages, comments, and requests for tech support.

• Start & End Dates:  Create or change the start and end dates for the segment. Segments impact the start and end dates of the project. The segment with the earliest start date determines the start date for the project. The segment with the latest end date determines the end of the project.

  Note:  Start and end dates are based on the participant's time zone.

  Note:  Segments impact the start and end date of the project. The segment with the earliest start date determines the start date for the project. The segment with the latest end date determines the end of the project.

• Language:  Change the language of the segment for international projects with multiple languages. By setting the language, the system knows to display the interface in the correct language. See Forsta Plus Digital Diaries System Requirements for a list of languages that Forsta Plus Digital Diaries supports. See Creating a Multi-Language Project for more guidance on multi-language projects.

  Note:  Participant responses are not translated by Forsta Plus Digital Diaries.

Important:  Once you have assigned a participant to a segment, DO NOT move them into another segment once the project has started. You will lose data.

Important:  Social activities, such as group discussions, can only happen between people in the same segment. If you are only using segments to be able to sort data, consider using unique profile fields instead.

4:  Using Open Registration Links

Note:  This feature is available in English only.

If your project has the Open Registration feature enabled, a “Registration Links” option appears for each segment under the “Manage” column.

Clicking the “Registration Links” option for a segment allows you to customize the names and URLs for the registration links for that segment. By default, each URL is set to “active”. You can toggle “active” off for any link to disable that link for users.

The following special rules apply when adding or editing segments in projects with Open Registration links:

• If your project contains multiple segments, you must create at least one link for each segment for which participants can self-sign up.
• Registration links require a name to create.
• Once created, registration links default to being "active”. This means that once you create the link, participants can begin to register for the project.
• To share a link with other users, click anywhere in the "url" text box and copy the link text. It can then be pasted to any source you wish.
• Participants who access an active link will be directed to register for the project. They will be asked to add their name, email address, password, time zone, and notification preference, and must agree to the project’s terms before gaining access. See Registration to learn what the participant will see.
• To close a registration link, toggle “active” to off. Anyone who access the URL will be notified that registration is now closed.

4.1:  Tracking Multiple Sources

If you have made your project’s registration links available on multiple sources, you can track activity from these sources using the “Source” column in the Participants page.

Note:  The “Source” column appears only for projects with Open Registration enabled.