Deployment & Invitations

Deployment is the step where your interview becomes accessible to participants.
An Interview defines the structure and logic.
A Deployment distributes that interview to a specific audience.

 

This guide explains how to activate an interview and manage invitations.

 

1. What Is a Deployment?

A Deployment is a live instance of an interview.

You can think of it this way:

• Interview = Research protocol
• Deployment = Distribution channel
• Response = Individual participation event

Each deployment:

• Has its own invitation links
• Tracks its own response statuses
• Can be configured independently (voice/text modes)

This separation allows you to reuse the same interview across different audiences or studies.

 

 

2. Create a Deployment

To activate your interview:

1. Open your interview.
2. Click Deploy.
3. Configure deployment settings.

You will be asked to define:

• Deployment name (internal reference)
• Response mode
• Access type
• Invitation method

Once configured, click Activate Deployment.

 

 

3. Choose Response Mode

You can control how participants respond:

• Voice – AI voice interview only
• Text – Wizard-style form only
• Both – Participant chooses their preferred mode

Use Voice when emotional nuance and depth matter.
Use Text when accessibility or silent environments are important.
Use Both for maximum flexibility.

The system automatically renders the correct experience based on this setting.

 

 

4. Invitation Methods

Third Ear supports multiple ways to invite participants.

 

A. Direct Invitation (Email-Based)

You can manually enter participant details:

• Email address
• First name
• Last name

Or upload a CSV file with participant information. The system sends each participant a unique invitation link. Each invitation is tracked individually.

 

B. Shareable Link

You can generate a generic shareable link for open distribution.

This method is useful when:

• Sharing in communities
• Embedding in newsletters
• Posting publicly

Note: Anonymous mode may apply depending on your configuration.

 

 

5. Invitation Status Tracking

Each invitation progresses through structured states:

• SENT – Email successfully sent
• OPENED – Email opened by participant
• CLICKED – Link accessed
• COMPLETED – Interview finished

This allows you to monitor engagement and identify drop-off points. Statuses update automatically.

 

 

6. Anonymous Mode

In anonymous mode:

• No platform account is required for participants.
• Identity is stored only from the invitation record (if provided).
• Responses are not linked to user accounts.

This ensures lower friction and protects participant privacy.

Anonymous deployments are ideal for:

• Sensitive topics
• Public research
• External audiences

 

 

7. Managing Active Deployments

From the Deployment dashboard, you can:

• View response count
• Monitor processing status
• Access transcripts and recordings
• Export response data
• Deactivate deployment

Each deployment is isolated from others, even if they use the same interview structure.

 

 

8. Participant Experience

When participants open the link:

1. They see the interview introduction.
2. They select mode (if BOTH enabled).
3. They grant microphone permission (for voice mode).
4. They complete the session.

Participants can resume incomplete sessions if allowed.

 

 

Best Practices

• Use clear deployment names (e.g., “Customer Study – March 2026”).
• Choose response mode based on your audience context.
• Test your deployment link before sending to participants.
• Monitor invitation statuses within the first 24 hours.
• Close or expire deployments once your target response count is reached.

 

 

If you get stuck, open Support or reach out to your team workspace admin.