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How to record whether participants copy&paste for the open-ended questions?

Forum|Forum|2 days ago
March 15, 2026
3 replies
32 views

SSyaohhh

Hi everyone! I would like to collect some qualitative data (open-ended responses). Considering participants’ potential use of AI, we would like to use some code so that we can track whether participants use copy and paste for their answers? We are not trying to prevent participants from using copy and paste. Instead, we just would like to know whether participants use copy and paste or not!

Thank you so much!

Best answer by vgayraud

Hi,

Add an embedded data at the top of your survey flow and this custom script to your question.

Qualtrics.SurveyEngine.addOnload(function () {

    var questionId = this.questionId;
    var textArea = document.querySelector('#question-' + questionId + ' textarea') || document.querySelector('#' + questionId + ' textarea');
    var pasteDetected = false;

    if (textArea) {

        function handleExternalInput(event) {
            if ((event.type === 'paste' || event.type === 'drop') && (!pasteDetected)) {
                pasteDetected = true;
                Qualtrics.SurveyEngine.setJSEmbeddedData('pasteUsed', pasteDetected);
            }
        }

        textArea.addEventListener('paste', handleExternalInput);
        textArea.addEventListener('drop', handleExternalInput);
    }

});

If you need to differentiate it for multiple questions, just create more ED fields and adapt the script.

+37

pamelalbeck
Level 5 ●●●●●
Forum|Forum|1 day ago
March 16, 2026

Oh wow @SSyaohhh, great topic! I don’t suspect many of the student responses I get are AI due to the length, but I do think many take the surveys on their phones due to the typos. Interested to see how other users respond though.

Pamela L. Beck

Like

+62

vgayraud
QPN Level 7 ●●●●●●●
Answer
Forum|Forum|23 hours ago
March 17, 2026

Hi,

Add an embedded data at the top of your survey flow and this custom script to your question.

Qualtrics.SurveyEngine.addOnload(function () {

    var questionId = this.questionId;
    var textArea = document.querySelector('#question-' + questionId + ' textarea') || document.querySelector('#' + questionId + ' textarea');
    var pasteDetected = false;

    if (textArea) {

        function handleExternalInput(event) {
            if ((event.type === 'paste' || event.type === 'drop') && (!pasteDetected)) {
                pasteDetected = true;
                Qualtrics.SurveyEngine.setJSEmbeddedData('pasteUsed', pasteDetected);
            }
        }

        textArea.addEventListener('paste', handleExternalInput);
        textArea.addEventListener('drop', handleExternalInput);
    }

});