Getting started

1.1 Video Help

Please visit the following URL to access a folder containing videos that cover many topics related to the TickStat framework:

https://vimeo.com/user/39339039/folder/21369249?isPrivate=false

1.2 TickStat Licenses

There are two types of licenses for researchers:

1. Gold license.
2. Silver license. (This is the license assigned when you create an account through Google Auth.)

With both licenses, users have access to the full tickStat framework, including all available methodologies:

1. Discrete Choice Experiments (DCE) with all variant models — multinomial logit (MNL) and mixed logit / random parameters logit (RPL).
2. Q Methodology, including factor analysis of viewpoint configurations.
3. Implicit Association Test (IAT) with millisecond-resolution latency capture.
4. Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) with automatic pairwise-comparison generation.
5. Factorial vignette experiments for multi-attribute scenario evaluation.
6. Game-theoretic experiments (coordination, trust, public goods).
7. Advanced translation functionality with automatic translation to 14 languages.

Additionally:

1. Access to all widgets provided by the framework.
2. Advanced branching features and advanced calculated fields.

The only differences between the two licenses are:

1. The number of completed surveys (fully finished) is limited to 40 for Silver accounts.
2. The number of surveys is limited to 10 for Silver accounts.

1.3 Main Sections in TickStat Survey Tool

The main sections of the TickStat Survey Tool are shown in Figure 1 - Platform Main Sections and are explained below:

1. Section 1: To hide the menu and gain a larger working area, click the button represented by Section 1. The menu section will collapse.
2. Section 2: Section 2 contains shortcut buttons for quick access to key functionalities:
3. a. New button: Creates a new survey.
4. b. Edit button: Opens the settings for the current survey.
5. c. Display to test button: Previews and tests the survey currently being worked on.
6. d. Manual survey button: Allows manual entry of data collected through paper surveys.
7. e. Delete button: Deletes the current survey.
8. Section 3: Section 3 displays a breadcrumb that provides information about the current survey and question. It also provides navigation:
9. a. First link: Navigates to the window listing all surveys.
10. b. Second link: Navigates to the survey edit form for the current survey.
11. c. Third link: Navigates to the question edit form for the current question.
12. Section 4: Section 4 is the application menu, containing the operations available for the current survey or question.
13. Sections 5 and 6: These are the working areas where you create new questions or interact with the current survey.

It is important to note that Section 3 displays information about the selected survey, referred to as the "Working Survey." All operations are executed against this survey. Similarly, once a question is created or selected, it becomes the "Working Question," and all question-related operations are executed against it.

1.4 Authentication

1.4.1 Multi Factor Authentication

Since June 1, 2023, TickStat provides Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to enhance account security. You need to verify your email address in the profile section of the TickStat console.

Each time you log in from a new device as an administrator, you will be prompted to enter a token sent via email. This authentication step is required only once per device. Subsequent logins from the same device will not require the token.

1.5 Password Security

Administrator passwords are now stored using PBKDF2 hashing with salt. Plain-text passwords are no longer stored in the database. Password reset is handled through a secure email-based flow.

1.6 User Administration

1.6.1 User Roles

TickStat defines the following user roles, each with different levels of access:

Role	Description
Superadmin	Full platform access. Can manage all surveys across all users, create and delete investigator accounts, unlock surveys, transfer survey ownership, and access system-level configuration.
Investigator	Standard researcher role. Can create, configure, and manage their own surveys. Can share surveys with other investigators. Has access to all question types, reporting, and analysis features.
Field Manager (Gestor de Campo)	Limited role focused on field operations. Can view survey quotas and access quota reports, but cannot create or edit surveys. The toolbar and many menu options are hidden for this role.
Panel Manager (Gestor de Paneles)	Role for managing research panel integrations and respondent distribution.

When a user registers through Google Authentication, they receive an Investigator account with a Silver license by default.

1.6.2 Creating a New Investigator

Only superadmins can create new investigator accounts. To create a new investigator:

1. Navigate to the user administration section in the menu.
2. Fill in the required fields:
3. Username: The login identifier for the new account.
4. First name: The user's first name.
5. Email: The email address where a welcome message with password setup instructions will be sent.
6. Optionally fill in: last name and phone number.
7. Select the Account type: Gold or Silver (see Section 1.2 - TickStat Licenses for differences).
8. Click Create Investigator.

A welcome email is sent to the specified address with instructions for setting up a password.

1.6.3 Profile Management

Users can manage their profile information and security settings through the user menu (accessible from the top-right corner of the admin panel). From the profile section, users can:

• Update their personal information (name, email, phone).
• Verify their email address (required for Multi-Factor Authentication).
• Change their password.