Research task overview
Task Onboarding
Before you decide whether to participate, review how the task works and what the game screen will ask you to do. No game session is created until you choose a consent option.
Step 1 of 6: Mission overview
Step 1
First, know what you are joining
This is a multiplayer research task about decision-making. You will work with a three-member spaceship crew to mine Energy Cubes from asteroids across several star systems.
Each round gives the crew 4 Energy Cubes (EC). You can spend EC on scans, travel, and mining choices with the goal of earning as many Energy Cubes as possible. Leftover EC will be added to the final score.
Your total number of Energy Cubes extracted at the end of the game will be used to calculate any performance bonus. Your performance bonus is paid through Prolific after the study.
Stay focused and active. The game requires your attention throughout. If you remain idle for an extended period of time, you may be disconnected and your session will end.
If your session starts with one or more practice rounds, those rounds are only for learning the screen. Energy Cubes from practice are not added to your final score or bonus.
Three Phases in Each Round
1
Briefing Phase
120 seconds to scan, chat, and plan.
2
Action Phase
15 seconds to submit final role actions.
3
Result Phase
Review the outcome, then move to the next round.
Step 2
The spaceship crew has three roles
Each role sees and does different things. Communication is essential. The team performs best when there is good communication.
Communication during Briefing
Navigator
talks with
Captain
Driller
talks with
Captain
No direct Navigator-Driller chat portal is available during the game.
Step 3
Where to look on the game screen
Your exact panel depends on your role, but the main areas are similar: chat with the Captain (or, for Captains, with the other players), system information, and action controls. Only your assigned role's controls appear in the live game.
- A Chat is open during the Briefing Phase.
- B System info shows scan results and costs.
- C Action controls are used when the round enters the Action Phase. Captain advises; Navigator chooses the asteroid; Driller chooses the mining depth.
Navigator Control Panel
Example layout
A
Chat with Captain
Captain: Share what your scanner found.
You: Alpha yield is high.
B
System info
| Asteroid | Yield | Depth |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha | High | ? |
| Beta | ? | Deep |
C
Action controls
Shown when your role can act.
Step 4
What matters during each round
During the Briefing Phase, team members can scan and talk to the Captain. During the Action Phase, chat closes and the Navigator and Driller submit their final choices. During the Result Phase, the round outcome is shown.
Round timing
Briefing = scan, chat, plan. Action = final choices, chat closed. Result = outcome.
Budget
Scanning, travel, and mining all spend EC.
Dusty asteroid rule
On high-complexity asteroids, depth scan first, yield scan second. If yield goes first, both scans still cost EC, but the depth result is not usable for mining.
Mining rule
Correct depth extracts full Energy Cubes. Wrong depth extracts zero.
Step 5
Questions during the study
After scored rounds 1-3, you answer short timed questions before the next round. After scored round 4, you answer the untimed final survey and return to Prolific.
Practice round(s)
Learn the screen; not scored
↓
Four scored rounds
Timed questions appear after Rounds 1-3; Round 4 goes to the final survey.
Round 1
Timed questions
Round 2
Timed questions
Round 3
Timed questions
Round 4
↓
Final survey
Untimed
↓
Prolific
Return for completion
Step 6
Before you decide
This academic study explores how different conditions affects decision making. Your participation is voluntary. You are under no obligation to take part and you may stop at any time. You are free to withdraw from the study at any time. Our study is purely for academic purposes. The data and results may be available to the public in research journals, books, other academic publications and data repositories. Your data will be treated anonymously, and no one with access to the data will know your identity. If you have any questions pertaining to this research, or your rights as a participant, you can contact the principal investigator via Prolific. You will have an opportunity to receive a complete explanation of the research and its purposes following completion of the studies. If you agree to take part in these research studies, and agree to the information outlined above, please select the appropriate response below.
By consenting, you confirm that you are 18 or older and responsible for any tax due on study payment.