Script Author: Katja Borchert, Ph.D. (katjab@millisecond.com), Millisecond
Created: January 29, 2019
Last Modified: January 17, 2025 by K. Borchert (katjab@millisecond.com), Millisecond
Script Copyright © Millisecond Software, LLC
This script implements the Symmetry Span test subtest of the Adaptive Composite Complex Span Test (ACCES); an adaptive test of working memory with visuospatial ("symmetry span test"), mathematical ("operation span test") and verbal subtests ("reading span test") for children ages 8-13.
The ACCES was developed by Gonthier et al (2018). According to the authors "the test presents a fixed number of trials to all participants, allows for partial credit scoring, and can be used with children regardless of ability level. The ACCES demonstrated satisfying psychometric properties in a sample of 268 children aged 8©13 years." (p.910)
All materials for the ACCES © including the stimuli, an open source implementation of the task script under PsychoPy (Peirce, 2007), and all validation data © can be accessed via the Open Science Framework platform at https://osf.io/bk7pm/.
Norms in this script (based on grade level) use the data provided by Gonthier et al (2018) collected with a sample of French students.
Gonthier, C., Thomassin, N., & Roulin, J.-L. (2016). The Composite Complex Span: French validation of a short working memory task. Behavior Research Methods, 48(1), 233-242. doi:10.?3758/?s13428-015-0566-3
Gonthier C, Aubry A, Bourdin B. (2018). Measuring working memory capacity in children using adaptive tasks: Example validation of an adaptive complex span. Behav Res Methods. Jun;50(3):910-921. doi: 10.3758/s13428-017-0916-4. PMID: 28643158. Gonthier, C., Thomassin, N., & Roulin, J.-L. (2016). The Composite Complex Span : French validation of a short working memory task. Behavior Research Methods, 48(1), 233-242. doi:10.?3758/?s13428-015-0566-3
Gonthier C, Aubry A, Bourdin B. (2018). Measuring working memory capacity in children using adaptive tasks: Example validation of an adaptive complex span. Behav Res Methods. Jun;50(3):910-921. doi: 10.3758/s13428-017-0916-4. PMID: 28643158.
this script does not run on its own. It is included in script "ACCES_SSPAN.iqjs"
9 minutes
Participants work on 6 symmetry span test trials. Levels for each trial (after the first) are adapted based on performance.
Symmetry Span Test: a dual task involving the evaluation of simple symmetry problems while also trying to remember spatial location in a 4x4 matrix: Evaluation of Symmetry Problem -> Matrix Position Learning -> .....-> Matrix Positions Recall
The number of 'symmetry-evaluations/spatial position learning' combos depends on the level of difficulty (=span size) of the current test trial. All participants start at level 4. Depending on performance they move up, stay on the same level, or go down a level. The lowest level tested is level 2; the highest level tested in the SSPAN is level 7.
The task provides 3 practice session before the actual 6 test trials are run: Practice 1: training of the spatial location recall task Practice 2: training of the symmetry evaluation task Practice 3: dual training of the combined task
level = span size
4 phases:
PHASE 1: Practice 1 -Matrix position Recall Training ("Memory Task")
Participants work on 2 trials (level 2, followed by level 3) with a fixed set of stimuli for each round.
During this phase, they only work on the Matrix position Recall task (no symmetry problems are presented)
Trial Sequence:
blank (700ms)->Start Fixation Cross (presented for 1200ms) -> blank (for 500ms) ->
Matrix position (800ms) -> Blank (800ms) -> Matrix position (800ms) -> Blank (800ms) -> .......-> Blank (700ms)
-> Recall Screen (as long as needed, corrections possible) -> Feedback (3000ms)
At the end of Practice1, recall performance is analyzed and the practice block is repeated
IF mean recall performance is under 70% correct.
(recall performance: the number of Matrix positions correctly recalled in the exact position of presentation)
PHASE 2: Practice 2 - Symmetry Problem Evaluation Training ("Processing Task")
Participants work on 10 Symmetry Problems and evaluate them to be 'true' (when symmetric) or 'false' (when asymmetric).
The Symmetry Problems are the same for each participant and are presented in fixed order.
No Matrix position Recall task is run.
Trial Sequence:
blank (700ms)->Start Fixation Cross (presented for 1200ms) -> blank (for 500ms) ->
Symmetry Problem (max. 8000ms) -> Feedback (3000ms) -> Blank (150ms) -> Symmetry Problem (max. 8000ms) -> Feedback (3000ms)....
At the end of this practice round, symmetry performance is analyzed and the practice block is repeated
if the proportion correctly evaluated Symmetry Problems is under 70% correct.
Furthermore, the duration of the symmetry problem presentation for the test trials is calculated:
median time (in ms) the problems were answered + 2.5 x Median Absolute Deviation (MAD).
(Range: 2000ms - 8000ms)
PHASE 3: Practice 3 - Dual Task Training
Participants work on 2 combined trials (level 2, level 3). The stimuli are the same for all participants
and are presented in fixed order.
Trial Sequence:
blank (700ms)->Start Fixation Cross (presented for 1200ms) -> blank (for 500ms) ->
Symmetry Problem (calculated presentation time during practice 2) -> Blank (150ms) ->
Matrix position (800ms) -> Blank (800ms) ->
Symmetry Problem (calculated presentation time during practice 2) -> Blank (150ms) ->
Matrix position (800ms) -> Blank (800ms) -> .....
Matrix position (800ms) -> Blank (700ms) -> Recall Screen
At the end of this practice round, performance is analyzed and feedback is provided.
PHASE 4: Test (Dual Task)
Participants work on 6 combined trials (starting level = 3; levels are adjusted based on performance
thereafter). Each trial (1-6) presents the stimuli from the same stimuli lists in the same order
(though not all participants will work on all the possible stimuli of a particular trial as this is
level dependent). No more feedback is provided.
Trial Sequence:
blank (700ms)->Start Fixation Cross (presented for 1200ms) -> blank (for 500ms) ->
Symmetry Problem (calculated presentation time during practice 2) -> Blank (150ms) ->
Matrix position (800ms) -> Blank (800ms) ->
Symmetry Problem (calculated presentation time during practice 2) -> Blank (150ms) ->
Matrix position (800ms) -> Blank (800ms) -> .....
Matrix position (800ms) -> Blank (700ms) -> Recall Screen
During each round, the computer calculates
a. processing task performance (here: symmetry performance)
b. recall performance
- the number of correctly recalled Matrix positions
- the total number of correctly recalled Matrix positions
At the end of each round, the next level is determined based on recall performance:
1. levels goes down by 1 for recall performance less than 60%
2. levels stay the same for 60% <= recall performance < 100%
3. levels go up by 1 for perfect recall performance (100% correct)
All stimuli are provided by Gonthier et al (2018)
All materials for the ACCES © including the stimuli, an open source implementation
of the task script under PsychoPy (Peirce, 2007), and all validation data © can be accessed via the Open Science
Framework platform at https://osf.io/bk7pm/.
Instructions are modelled after the ones used in the e-prime script provided
by Gonthier et al (2018).
The instructions in this script are provided by as htm/html pages and can be edited by changing the
provided htm/html files. To edit htm/html-files: open the respective documents in simple Text Editors
such as TextEdit (Mac) or Notepad (Windows).
See script acces_sspan_instructions_inc.iqjs
File Name: acces_sspan_summary*.iqdat
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| inquisit.version | Inquisit version number |
| computer.platform | Device platform: win | mac |ios | android |
| computer.touch | 0 = device has no touchscreen capabilities; 1 = device has touchscreen capabilities |
| computer.hasKeyboard | 0 = no external keyboard detected; 1 = external keyboard detected |
| startDate | Date the session was run |
| startTime | Time the session was run |
| subjectId | Participant ID |
| groupId | Group number |
| sessionId | Session number |
| elapsedTime | Session duration in ms |
| completed | 0 = Test was not completed 1 = Test was completed |
| age | The entered age of the participant |
| gradeLevel | The entered grade level of the participant |
| gender | The entered gender of the participant |
| ssDurationS | The SSPAN task duration in seconds |
| ssTotalStimsRecalled | The total number of matrix positions recalled across all 6 SSPAN test rounds |
| ssZScore | The calculated z-score of the total number of recalled matrix positions across all 6 SSPAN test rounds |
| ssPercentile | The calculated percentile of the z-score of the total number of recalled matrix positions across all 6 SSPAN test trials mean and standard deviation used to calculate z-scorespercentile ranks are based on published data by Gonthier et al (2018) using a sample of French students. For more detail see Gonthier et al (2018). |
| list.ssProcessingAccOverall.mean | The mean proportion correct Processing Task ('symmetry problems') performance across all 6 SSPAN test rounds |
| ssProcessingTaskFlag | 1 = the mean proportion correct SSPAN Processing Task ('symmetry problems') performance is below 70% correct (SSPAN performance is flagged) 0 = otherwise (SSPAN performance is not flagged) list.ssProcessingRTOverall.mean: mean correct processing response time (in ms) |
| list.ssCurrentLevels.mean | The average SSPAN span size worked on |
| list.ssCurrentLevels.minimum | The minimum SSPAN span size worked on (lowest possible span size tested: 2) |
| list.ssCurrentLevels.maximum | The maximum SSPAN span size worked on (highest possible span size tested: 8) |
| ssLevel2Count | Number of times span size 2 was run during the SSPAN |
| ssLevel3Count | Number of times span size 3 was run during the SSPAN |
| ssLevel4Count | Number of times span size 4 was run during the SSPAN |
| ssLevel5Count | Number of times span size 5 was run during the SSPAN |
| ssLevel6Count | Number of times span size 6 was run during the SSPAN |
| ssLevel7Count | Number of times span size 7 was run during the SSPAN |
| ssLevel8Count | Number of times span size 8 was run during the SSPAN |
| ssLevelRound1 | SSPAN span size tested during Round 1 (by default: 4) |
| ssProblemCumAccRound1 | Number of correctly answered SSPAN Processing Task ('symmetry evaluation task') problems during Round 1 |
| ssProcessingAccRound1 | Proportion correct SSPAN Processing Task ('symmetry evaluation task') performance during Round 1 |
| ssStimsRound1 | The presented SSPAN recall stims ('matrix positions') during Round 1 (in the order presented) |
| ssRecallResponseRound1 | The recalled SSPAN stims ('matrix positions') during Round 1 (in the order selected) |
| ssNumberStimsRecalledRound1 | The number of correctly recalled SSPAN stims ('matrix positions') during Round 1 |
| ssProcessingRTRound1 | Mean correct processing task response time (in ms) in Round 1 |
| ssLevelRound2 | SSPAN span size tested during Round 2 |
| ssProblemCumAccRound2 | Number of correctly answered SSPAN Processing Task ('symmetry evaluation task') problems during Round 2 |
| ssProcessingAccRound2 | Proportion correct SSPAN Processing Task ('symmetry evaluation task') performance during Round 2 |
| ssStimsRound2 | The presented SSPAN recall stims ('matrix positions') during Round 2 (in the order presented) |
| ssRecallResponseRound2 | The recalled SSPAN stims ('matrix positions') during Round 2 (in the order selected) |
| ssNumberStimsRecalledRound2 | The number of correctly recalled SSPAN stims ('matrix positions') during Round 2 |
| ssProcessingRTRound2 | Mean correct processing task response time (in ms) in Round 2 |
| ssLevelRound3 | SSPAN span size tested during Round 3 |
| ssProblemCumAccRound3 | Number of correctly answered SSPAN Processing Task ('symmetry evaluation task') problems during Round 3 |
| ssProcessingAccRound3 | Proportion correct SSPAN Processing Task ('symmetry evaluation task') performance during Round 3 |
| ssStimsRound3 | The presented SSPAN recall stims ('matrix positions') during Round 3 (in the order presented) |
| ssRecallResponseRound3 | The recalled SSPAN stims ('matrix positions') during Round 3 (in the order selected) |
| ssNumberStimsRecalledRound3 | The number of correctly recalled SSPAN stims ('matrix positions') during Round 3 |
| ssProcessingRTRound3 | Mean correct processing task response time (in ms) in Round 3 |
| ssLevelRound4 | SSPAN span size tested during Round 4 |
| ssProblemCumAccRound4 | Number of correctly answered SSPAN Processing Task ('symmetry evaluation task') problems during Round 4 |
| ssProcessingAccRound4 | Proportion correct SSPAN Processing Task ('symmetry evaluation task') performance during Round 4 |
| ssStimsRound4 | The presented SSPAN recall stims ('matrix positions') during Round 4 (in the order presented) |
| ssRecallResponseRound4 | The recalled SSPAN stims ('matrix positions') during Round 4 (in the order selected) |
| ssNumberStimsRecalledRound4 | The number of correctly recalled SSPAN stims ('matrix positions') during Round 4 |
| ssProcessingRTRound4 | Mean correct processing task response time (in ms) in Round 4 |
| ssLevelRound5 | SSPAN span size tested during Round 5 |
| ssProblemCumAccRound5 | Number of correctly answered SSPAN Processing Task ('symmetry evaluation task') problems during Round 5 |
| ssProcessingAccRound5 | Proportion correct SSPAN Processing Task ('symmetry evaluation task') performance during Round 5 |
| ssStimsRound5 | The presented SSPAN recall stims ('matrix positions') during Round 5 (in the order presented) |
| ssRecallResponseRound5 | The recalled SSPAN stims ('matrix positions') during Round 5 (in the order selected) |
| ssNumberStimsRecalledRound5 | The number of correctly recalled SSPAN stims ('matrix positions') during Round 5 |
| ssProcessingRTRound5 | Mean correct processing task response time (in ms) in Round 5 |
| ssLevelRound6 | SSPAN span size tested during Round 6 |
| ssProblemCumAccRound6 | Number of correctly answered SSPAN Processing Task ('symmetry evaluation task') problems during Round 6 |
| ssProcessingAccRound6 | Proportion correct SSPAN Processing Task ('symmetry evaluation task') performance during Round 6 |
| ssStimsRound6 | The presented SSPAN recall stims ('matrix positions') during Round 6 (in the order presented) |
| ssRecallResponseRound6 | The recalled SSPAN stims ('matrix positions') during Round 6 (in the order selected) |
| ssNumberStimsRecalledRound6 | The number of correctly recalled SSPAN stims ('matrix positions') during Round 6 |
| ssProcessingRTRound6 | Mean correct processing task response time (in ms) in Round 6 |
| ssSpanTaskTrainingCount | The number of times the SSPAN span task training was run (SSPAN practice 1) |
| ssProcessingTaskTrainingCount | The number of times the SSPAN processing task training was run (SSPAN practice 2) |
| ssDualTaskTrainingCount | The number of times the SSPAN span task training was run (SSPAN practice 3) |
| ssProcessingTaskMaxDuration | The maximum duration (in ms) that SSPAN processing Task problems ('symmetry problems') are presented during the Dual Task Training block (=practice3) and the actual Test rounds. This duration was calculated based on the Median Processing Task Duration during the Processing Task Training (=practice2) 'SS ProcessingTask medianRT' + 2.5 x 'SS Processing Task MAD RT' |
| ssProcessingRTMeanPr2 | The mean response latency answering SSPAN processing task problems ('symmetry problems') during practice2 |
| ssProcessingRTMedianPr2 | The median response latency answering SSPAN processing task problems ('symmetry problems') during practice2 |
| ssProcessingRTMAD | Median Absolute Deviation (MAD) of response latencies answering SSPAN processing task problems during practice2 |
File Name: acces_sspan_raw*.iqdat
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| build | Inquisit version number |
| computer.platform | Device platform: win | mac |ios | android |
| computer.touch | 0 = device has no touchscreen capabilities; 1 = device has touchscreen capabilities |
| computer.hasKeyboard | 0 = no external keyboard detected; 1 = external keyboard detected |
| date | Date the session was run |
| time | Time the session was run |
| subject | Participant ID |
| group | Group number |
| session | Session number |
| blockcode | The name the current block (built-in Inquisit variable) |
| blocknum | The number of the current block (built-in Inquisit variable) |
| trialcode | The name of the currently recorded trial (built-in Inquisit variable) |
| trialnum | The number of the currently recorded trial (built-in Inquisit variable) trialnum is a built-in Inquisit variable; it counts all trials run even those that do not store data to the data file. |
| age | The entered age of the participant |
| gradeLevel | The entered grade level of the participant |
| gender | The entered gender of the participant |
| phase | Stores the name of the current task phase |
| roundCount | Counts the rounds ("trials") run in the current phase |
| currentLevel | Stores the levelspansize tested in the current round |
| processingTaskProblem | Stores the current processing task problem (e.g. symmetry evaluation) presented (PROCESSING TASK) |
| correctResponse | Stores the correct response to the current processing task problem (TRUE vs. FALSE) (PROCESSING TASK) |
| processingTaskResponse | Stores the given response to the current processing task problem (TRUE vs. FALSE) (PROCESSING TASK) |
| processingTaskAcc | Stores the accuracy of the processing task response (PROCESSING TASK) 1 = correct 0 = error |
| processingTaskCumAcc | Stores the number of correct processing task responses (PROCESSING TASK) |
| stim | Stores the current recall stim (e.g. Matrix position) presented (MEMORY TASK) |
| currentStims | Stores the collected recall stims of the current round in the order presented (MEMORY TASK) |
| recallResponse | Stores the recall stims of the current round in the order selected on the recall matrix (MEMORY TASK) |
| numberStimsRecalled | Stores the number of correctly recalled stims of the current round(MEMORY TASK) |
| totalStimsRecalled | Stores the total number of correctly recalled stims during the current task (MEMORY TASK) |
| stimulusItem | The presented stimuli in order of trial presentation of the currently recorded trial |
| response | The participant's response (scancode of response buttons) of the currently recorded trial |
| correct | Accuracy of response: 1 = correct response; 0 = otherwise of the currently recorded trial |
| latency | The response latency (in ms) of the current trial |
The procedure can be adjusted by setting the following parameters.
| Name | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
User Interface Sizing Parameters |
||
| ssFixationCrossHeight | Sets the size of the fixation cross (presented during practice blocks) relative to canvas height | 20% |
| ssMatrixSize | Sets the size of the recall matrix relative to the canvas | 65% |
| ssProblemHeight | Sets the height of the presented symmetry images relative to canvas height | 80% |
Duration Parameters |
||
| ssPreFixationDuration | Sets the duration (in ms) of the blank space that precedes the fixation cross at the beginning of each trial | 700 |
| ssFixationDuration | Sets the duration (in ms) of the fixation cross presented on screen | 1200 |
| ssFixationStimISI | Sets the duration (in ms) of the blank space that follows the fixation cross before the first Matrix position is presented | 500 |
| ssProcessingProblemMaxDuration | Sets the max duration (in ms) that an equation is presented on screen (used during practice 2) | 8000 |
| ssProcessingProblemMinDuration | Sets the minimum duration (in ms) that an equation is presented on screen | 2000 |
| ssProcessingResponseISI | Sets the duration (in ms) of the blank space that follows a response to the equation problem before the next Matrix position is presented | 150 |
| ssStimDelay | Sets the delay (in ms) with which the stim (red matrix position) is revealed in the matrix | 100 |
| ssStimPresentationDuration | Sets the duration (in ms) that each Matrix position is presented on screen | 800 |
| ssIsi | Sets the duration (in ms) of the blank space that follows the presentation of a Matrix position before the next Matrix position/next equation is presented | 800 |
| ssRecallDelay | Sets the duration (in ms) of the blank space that follows the last Matrix position before the recall matrix is presented | 700 |
| ssSingleTaskFeedbackDuration | Sets the duration (in ms) of the final performance feedback text presented during the single task practice sessions (practice1/practice2) | 3000 |
| ssProcessingTaskImmediateFeedbackDuration | Sets the duration (in ms) of the intermittend feedback presented during the processing Task Training | 3000 |
| ssDualTaskFeedbackDuration | Sets the duration (in ms) of the performance feedback text presented for the dual task training performance (practice3) | 3000 |
Procedure Parameters |
||
| ssStartLevel | Sets the start level for the SSPAN test, should not be changed unless the necessary stimuli are provided | 3 |
| ssPracticeMinAcc | Defines the lowest proportion correct that needs to be achieved during practice1&2 to move on to the next phase | 0.7 |
| ssLevelDecrease | Performance under 60% correct results in decreasing the level for the next round | 0.6 |
| ssLevelIncrease | Performance at 100% results in increasing the level for the next round | 1 |
Debug |
||
| ssDebugmode | Debug Stimuli: should be set to 0 for the actual test (if set to 1 the correct Matrix positions show up on the recall screen) | 0 |