Screening Logic

This guide explains how screening qualification logic works when you have multiple questions with different rules.

Screening questions are shown in each participant's chosen language — the questions and answer options are translated automatically. The qualification logic below is unaffected by language.

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The Core Principle: Per-Question, Real-Time Evaluation

Screening is evaluated one question at a time, in the order questions appear, as the participant submits each answer. There is no end-of-screening holistic check. The moment a participant submits a disqualifying answer, they are immediately disqualified — they will not see any remaining questions.

Question order matters. Put your most important qualifying criteria early. A participant who answers Q1 with a Disqualify answer never reaches Q2.

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Single-Select Logic

For Single-Select questions, the participant chooses exactly one option. The result is determined immediately on submission.

Evaluation:

• If the selected answer's rule is Qualify → participant passes this question and continues to the next
• If the selected answer's rule is Disqualify → participant is immediately disqualified
• If the selected answer's rule is Irrelevant → participant is immediately disqualified

Example:

Question: "Do you use our product?"

• ○ Yes, daily → Qualify

• ○ Yes, occasionally → Qualify

• ○ No → Disqualify

• Yes, daily: Passes this question, continues

• Yes, occasionally: Passes this question, continues

• No: Immediately disqualified

Important: Selecting an Irrelevant answer on a single-select question has the same effect as Disqualify — the participant is disqualified immediately.

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Multi-Select Logic

For Multi-Select questions, the participant selects one or more options. All selected answers are evaluated together when the participant submits.

Evaluation:

• If any selected answer is Disqualify → participant is immediately disqualified
• If at least one selected answer is Qualify (and no Disqualify) → passes this question and continues
• If all selected answers are Irrelevant (no Qualify selected) → participant is immediately disqualified

Example:

Question: "Which features do you use?" (Select all that apply)

• □ Advanced analytics → Qualify

• □ Custom reports → Qualify

• □ API integrations → Qualify

• □ Basic dashboard → Irrelevant

• □ I don't use any features → Disqualify

• Advanced analytics + Custom reports: Passes this question, continues

• Basic dashboard only: Immediately disqualified (only Irrelevant, no Qualify)

• Advanced analytics + I don't use any features: Immediately disqualified (Disqualify present)

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Numeric Logic

For Numeric questions, the participant enters a number. There is no rule assignment — qualification is determined entirely by whether the number falls within the configured min/max bounds.

Evaluation:

• If no minimum or maximum is set → any valid number qualifies
• If the number is below the minimum → participant is immediately disqualified
• If the number is above the maximum → participant is immediately disqualified
• If the number is within the range → participant passes this question and continues

Example:

Question: "How many employees does your company have?"

• Minimum: 50

• Maximum: 500

• 100: Within range — passes this question, continues

• 25: Below minimum — immediately disqualified

• 1000: Above maximum — immediately disqualified

Minimum and maximum bounds are optional. Omit either to leave that end of the range open (e.g., minimum only = "at least N").

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How Multiple Questions Work Together

Each question is evaluated independently and sequentially. A participant must pass every question to be fully qualified.

Scenario 1: Sequential Disqualification

Question 1: "Do you use our product?"

• ○ Yes → Qualify
• ○ No → Disqualify

Question 2: "Are you a decision-maker?"

• ○ Yes → Qualify

• ○ No → Disqualify

• Yes (Qualify) — Q2 Answer: Yes (Qualify); Result: Qualified

• Yes (Qualify) — Q2 Answer: No (Disqualify); Result: Disqualified at Q2

• No (Disqualify) — Q2 Answer: —; Result: Disqualified at Q1; Q2 never shown

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Scenario 2: All-Irrelevant Multi-Select Disqualifies

Question 1: "Which industries do you work in?" (Select all that apply)

• □ Healthcare → Irrelevant
• □ Technology → Irrelevant
• □ Finance → Irrelevant

Because every answer on this multi-select question is Irrelevant, any participant who submits an answer with no Qualify answer selected is immediately disqualified. Q2 is never reached.

Result: All participants disqualified on Q1.

To collect data without any filtering effect, see the "Data Collection Without Filtering" pattern below.

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Scenario 3: Data Collection Without Filtering

To record data without filtering anyone out, mark every answer on the question Qualify — any answer then passes.

Question 1: "Do you use our product?"

• ○ Yes → Qualify
• ○ No → Disqualify

Question 2: "What's your role?" (All answers Qualify — data only)

• ○ Manager → Qualify

• ○ Individual Contributor → Qualify

• ○ Executive → Qualify

• Yes (Qualify) — Q2 Answer: Any role (Qualify); Result: Qualified

• No (Disqualify) — Q2 Answer: —; Result: Disqualified at Q1; Q2 never shown

Note: Marking every answer Irrelevant on a multi-select question does NOT collect data without filtering — a participant who selects only Irrelevant answers (with no Qualify answer) is disqualified.

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Scenario 4: Exclude a Specific Group After Qualifying

Question 1: "Do you use our product?"

• ○ Yes → Qualify
• ○ No → Disqualify

Question 2: "Do you work for a competitor?"

• ○ Yes → Disqualify

• ○ No → Qualify

• Yes (Qualify) — Q2 Answer: No (Qualify); Result: Qualified

• Yes (Qualify) — Q2 Answer: Yes (Disqualify); Result: Disqualified at Q2

• No (Disqualify) — Q2 Answer: —; Result: Disqualified at Q1

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Creating OR Logic

You cannot create true OR logic across separate single-select questions — each must be passed on its own. To get OR behaviour, combine the options into one multi-select question.

Instead of two separate questions ("Do you use Product A?" and "Do you use Product B?"):

Question: "Which products do you use?" (Multi-select)

• □ Product A → Qualify
• □ Product B → Qualify
• □ Neither → Disqualify

Result: Selecting either Product A OR Product B qualifies the participant for this question.

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Common Logic Patterns

Pattern 1: Hard Qualifier Then Exclusion

Question 1: "Do you use our product?"

• ○ Yes → Qualify
• ○ No → Disqualify

Question 2: "Do you work for a competitor?"

• ○ Yes → Disqualify
• ○ No → Qualify

Logic: Must use product AND not work for competitor.

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Pattern 2: Require Multiple Criteria

Question 1: "Do you use the product?"

• ○ Yes → Qualify
• ○ No → Disqualify

Question 2: "How often?"

• ○ Daily → Qualify
• ○ Weekly → Qualify
• ○ Monthly → Disqualify
• ○ Rarely → Disqualify

Logic: Must use product AND use it at least weekly. Put the broader filter (Q1) first so participants who fail it are not shown Q2.

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Troubleshooting Logic

Problem: Everyone Gets Disqualified

Cause 1: Single-Select Questions With No Qualify Answers

Every answer on a single-select question is Irrelevant or Disqualify. The first question disqualifies everyone before they reach any other question.

Fix: Add at least one Qualify answer to every single-select question that you intend to be passable.

Cause 2: Conflicting Requirements

• Question 1: Must be current user (Qualify)
• Question 2: Must have used < 1 week (but this Disqualifies most current users)

Fix: Review whether your criteria are compatible with each other.

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Problem: Wrong People Qualify

Cause: Missing Disqualify Options

Question: "How often do you use our product?"

• ○ Daily → Qualify
• ○ Weekly → Qualify
• (Missing: Monthly, Rarely, Never options)

Fix: Include all possible answers with appropriate rules so no answer is left without a path.

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Problem: Qualification Rate Too Low

Cause: Too Many Strict Filters

• Question 1: Must use product (filters 50%)
• Question 2: Must be specific age group (filters another 60%)
• Question 3: Must be specific location (filters another 70%)
• Result: 50% × 40% × 30% = 6% qualify

Fix: Reduce number of filtering questions or convert some Disqualify answers to Qualify.

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Testing Your Logic

Test Scenarios

Before publishing, test these paths:

1. Ideal participant — should qualify

   • Qualify answer on every question

2. Clearly wrong participant — should disqualify at Q1

   • Disqualify answer on Q1

3. Edge cases

   • Qualify on Q1, Disqualify on Q2 — should disqualify at Q2
   • Multi-select with one Qualify + one Disqualify — should disqualify
   • Multi-select with only Irrelevant answers — should disqualify

Use the Sandbox Link

After publishing, open the Sandbox link from the Share tab to run the real screening flow yourself. Sandbox conversations are marked as test data and don't count toward your participant limit, so you can test freely.

1. Publish the project and open the Sandbox link (Share tab)
2. Complete screening as different participant types
3. Verify qualification and disqualification happen at the correct question
4. Adjust rules if needed
5. Re-test until logic is correct

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Next Steps

See examples:

• Screening Examples - Complete screening setups with logic explained

Return to basics:

• Screening Basics - Question types and rules overview

Continue setup:

• Instructions - Configure AI interviewer
• Discussion Guide - Create interview questions