Pre-Publish Validation
Before publishing your study, Deepfield runs automatic validation checks to catch potential issues.
When Validation Runs
When you click Publish
When you enter Testing mode
When switching to Translation status
Validation Summary
The system checks for:
Required fields
Logic consistency
Option completeness
Question structure
Error Types
Critical Errors
Must be fixed before publishing:
Error | Description | Fix |
Empty question text | Question has no text | Add question wording |
No options | Multiple choice has no options | Add at least 2 options |
Invalid logic reference | Logic references deleted question | Update or remove condition |
Circular logic | Logic creates infinite loop | Break the circular dependency |
Warnings
Recommended to fix but won't block publishing:
Warning | Description | Recommendation |
Very long question | Question exceeds 500 characters | Consider splitting |
Many options | More than 15 options | Consider grouping |
No required questions | All questions optional | Mark key questions required |
Empty section | Section has no questions | Add questions or remove section |
Screening Anomaly Detection
The system identifies potential issues with screening logic:
Common Anomalies
Anomaly | Issue | Resolution |
Impossible criteria | Criteria combination has zero population | Relax one or more criteria |
Contradictory rules | Rules exclude everyone | Review logic combinations |
Missing disqualification | Screening question but no terminate action | Add disqualification path |
Overlapping quotas | Quotas exceed total sample | Adjust quota numbers |
Viewing Anomalies
Navigate to Recruit tab
Look for warning icons on screening questions
Click to see detailed explanation
Validation Operators
Understanding validation logic:
Operator | Use | Example |
required | Field must have value | Title is required |
min_length | Minimum character count | Question text > 10 chars |
max_length | Maximum character count | Option text < 200 chars |
min_count | Minimum number of items | At least 2 options |
unique | No duplicate values | Option text must be unique |
valid_reference | ID must exist | Logic question ID exists |
Common Issues and Fixes
Question Issues
"Question text is required"
Open the question editor
Add clear question text
Save changes
"Options are required for this question type"
Add at least 2 options for multiple choice
Add row and column items for matrix
Logic Issues
"Referenced question does not exist"
The question used in logic was deleted
Update logic to reference existing question
Or remove the condition
"Circular dependency detected"
Question A shows based on B, but B shows based on A
Remove one dependency
Use a third question as the trigger
Structure Issues
"Empty section detected"
Add questions to the section
Or delete the empty section
"Duplicate question IDs"
Usually from copy/paste errors
Delete duplicate and recreate
Fixing Validation Errors
Bulk Fix Workflow
Click Validate to see all errors
Errors appear in a list with question links
Click each error to jump to that question
Fix the issue
Click Validate again to confirm fix
Priority Order
Fix errors in this order:
Critical structural errors (empty questions)
Logic errors (broken references)
Screening anomalies
Warnings (optional but recommended)
💡 Tip: Run validation frequently during editing, not just before publishing. This catches issues early when they're easier to fix.
Post-Publish Validation
Some checks continue after publishing:
Check | Purpose |
Response quality | Flag low-quality responses |
Completion rate | Monitor drop-off points |
Logic path coverage | Ensure all paths are being used |