Tips When Pilot Testing with Labfront
We'll cover some tips, tricks, and important considerations when pilot testing on the Labfront platform.
Testing is a critical phase of your research setup. To ensure your data collection is seamless and your participants have a smooth experience, we’ve refined our top recommendations for a successful pilot.
In this article:
Before you begin
If you haven’t already, please review our Getting Started Guide. It’s the quickest way to ensure everything is correctly configured before you dive into the details.
New to wearable research?
Collecting physiological data comes with its own set of nuances. We recommend:
-
The Wearables 101 Video Series: A comprehensive introduction to biomarker data collection.
-
Expert Advice: Read our article on the Top 6 Tips for Your First Wearable Study.
Pro tips for a successful pilot
We’ve categorized these tips into three phases to help you stay organized during your trial run.
Phase 1: Setup & preparation
-
Start with a blank slate: Perform a full factory reset on every device before beginning your test. This prevents data from previous sessions from interfering with your results.
-
Recruit a "tech-challenged" tester: Don't just test it yourself. Include someone less familiar with wearables. They are excellent at spotting blind spots in instructions that tech-savvy researchers might overlook.
Phase 2: During the test
-
Sync early and often: Since pilot tests are usually short-term, sync frequently. This allows you to verify that data is flowing correctly from the device to the Labfront Companion app.
-
Verify your data format: Don't wait until the end. Export your data files mid-test to ensure the metrics, sampling rates, and file formats align perfectly with your study’s objectives. Explore how data is organized in Labfront→
Phase 3: Post-test & cleanup
-
Device hygiene: Once testing is complete, unpair the device from the Labfront Companion app and log out. You should also "forget" or unpair the device from your smartphone’s Bluetooth settings to prevent connection conflicts for the next user.
-
Reset for the real deal: Perform another factory reset on the devices before handing them to actual participants.
-
Revert to draft: Once you’re satisfied with the results, remember to reset your project status to Draft so you can make any final adjustments before the official launch.
We hope these tips make the testing process go as smoothly as possible. If you need any additional help, reach out to us at support@labfront.com.