Media Blocks Overview

Overview

Decode supports three types of media inputs within your studies: Images, Uploaded Videos, and YouTube/Vimeo Links. Each is designed to capture audience reactions to creative content from static visuals to dynamic campaigns using built-in tools like attention tracking and emotional analysis.

Media Blocks in Decode

Media Blocks allow you to present rich creative content such as videos, ads or images directly within your study. Whether uploaded as files or embedded from platforms like YouTube or Vimeo, these blocks create a seamless experience for respondents to view and react to content in real-time.

But Media Blocks are more than just a way to show media. They’re a powerful tool for unlocking layered insights combining visible feedback with behind-the-scenes attention, emotion, and engagement signals. This makes them ideal for ad testing, campaign optimization and any scenario where creative performance matters.

When to Use Media Blocks

Use Media Blocks when:

• You want to test ads, product videos, visual concepts, or interfaces
• You're running message testing or creative evaluations
• You need both direct feedback and behavioral data (e.g., how long someone watched, where they dropped off)
• You want to ask targeted follow-up questions based on what respondents just saw

Key Features

• Local file upload (image or video) - Upload media files (JPG, PNG, MP4, MOV) up to 200MB. A preview is shown and plays inlineno need for external links.
• YouTube & Vimeo embedding - Paste a public video link to embed it directly.
• Unified media experience - All media appears natively within the survey whether it’s a static image, walkthrough video, or a campaign reel creating a smooth respondent experience.
• Built-in validation - Decode automatically checks file size, format, and embed permissions before launch ensuring everything works perfectly when your study goes live.
• Supports follow-up questions - Add rating, multiple choice, or open-ended questions right after the media block to capture fresh, specific reactions.

Insights You Can Expect

Even though Media Blocks don’t ask questions directly, they power several layers of insights:

• Attention and emotion (if passive tracking is enabled): Understand how engaged respondents were during specific moments
• Timestamp-based recall: Correlate specific feedback with points in the video (e.g., “I liked the ending” vs. “The intro felt slow”)
• Impact on follow-up questions: Analyze how different media assets drive differences in perception, recall, or intent

Common Use Cases

• Ad testing: Compare multiple creatives for attention, clarity, or appeal
• Product demo evaluation: Understand if a video helps users grasp the value prop
• UX/UI walkthroughs: Show prototypes or app flows and collect targeted usability feedback
• Message refinement: Test how different ways of presenting a message influence understanding or persuasiveness