Script Author: Katja Borchert, Ph.D. (katjab@millisecond.com), Millisecond
Credits:
Millisecond thanks Samantha Gualtieri for her help with this script!
Created: January 04, 2021
Last Modified: January 20, 2025 by K. Borchert (katjab@millisecond.com), Millisecond
Script Copyright © Millisecond Software, LLC
This script implements a computer implementation of the Advanced/Mixed Version (formerly: Border Version) Dimensional Change Card Sort (DCCS) task as described by Zelazo (2006). The DCCS is a widely used test of executive functioning in children as young as 3 years olds. It is originally played with real cards. This computer implementation attempts to stay close to the original procedure. This script, however, replaces the 'border' (or picture frames) cues by verbal cues before each trial. It is best played on touchscreens where children can simply touch the relevant categories. Nevertheless, it can also be played with the mouse on regular desktops.
Zelazo, P.D. (2006). The Dimensional Change Card Sort (DCCS): a method of assessing executive function in children. Nature Protocols, 1, pp. 297+.
5 minutes
Participants see two categories up top: a blue shape1 with a sorting basket and a red shape2 with a sorting basket. The game is played in two phases: 1. Pre Phase: participants either start with the COLOR game or the SHAPE game.
In the COLOR game, participants are asked to sort cards of red bunnies and blue boats in the respective baskets. Red bunnies should be sorted in the basket of the red boats whereas blue boats should be sorted in the basket of the blue bunny.
In the SHAPE game, participants are asked to sort cards of red bunnies and blue boats in the respective baskets. Red bunnies should be sorted in the basket of the blue bunny whereas blue boats should be sorted in the basket of the red boat
Participants are assigned to either the COLOR or SHAPE game by groupnumber and work on 6 trials (editable parameter) (no feedback is provided). By default, participants are NOT reminded of the COLOR (or SHAPE) rule before each trial (as is done in Zelazo, 2006). However, if needed, that feature can be turned on under section 'Editable Parameters'
Addition: this script runs 2 practice trials for the pre-sorting game. Participants have to get both trials correct before moving on to the pre-test and they have 3 attempts (editable parameter) to pass this practice. If they don't pass the pre-practice, the script is prematurely aborted.
2. Post Phase: after 6 trials (editable parameter) the game changes from the COLOR game to the SHAPE game (or from the SHAPE game to the COLOR game).
Participants again work on 6 trials. By default, participants are reminded of the COLOR (or SHAPE) rule before each trial.
A participant is said to 'pass' the standard version if they get 80% (editable parameter) Post Trials correct.
If participants pass the Standard Version, they can immediately be tested with the Advanced Version. The Advanced Version runs color and shape trials in a mixed block. A verbal cue is presented upfront to let participants know which task should be performed: - Color Game OR - Shape Game After a short introduction of the Advanced Version, participants play 12 trials (editable parameters). ule.
A participant is said to 'pass' the Advanced version if they get at least 75% trials correct.
• this script uses audio stimuli - please make sure to have audio on • the 'Advanced' game was originally called the 'Border Game' by Zelazo (2006) as it used non-verbal borders around the cards as cues to signal the color condition (no border meant that the shape game should be played). The Inquisit version uses verbal cues instead.
Participants are given a short introduction to the Advanced Game
with one practice trial each
1. Test 12 trials
- 3 color trials with a red bunny
- 3 color trials with a blue boat
- 3 shape trials with a red bunny
- 3 shape trials with a blue boat
- trials are randomly selected with the constraint that the same trialtype cannot run
consecutively
Participants 'pass' the advanced DCCS if they respond correctly to at least 75% of the test trials.
provided by Millisecond - can be edited under section Editable Stimuli
- stimuli downloaded under the Creative Commons License.
The stimuli can easily be exchanged for others. Go to section Editable Stimuli.
If the categories are changed from Bunnies and Boats, the instructions have to be updated accordingly.
inspired by instructions suggested by Zelazo (2006)
File Name: dccs_advanced_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 |
| dccsStandardPreCategory | The game category (color vs. shape) that the participants started the DCCS standard version with (if applicable) |
| dccsStandard | "pass" vs. "fail" |
| trialCountAdvanced | Total number of Advanced trials run |
| countCorrectAdvanced | Number correctly sorted items in the Advanced Game |
| propCorrectAdvanced | Proportion correct in the Advanced Game |
| meanCorrAdvancedRT | Mean correct response time (in ms) in the Advanced Game |
| trialCountAdvancedColor | Total number of Advanced Color trials run |
| propCorrectAdvancedColor | Proportion correct color trials in the Advanced Game |
| meanCorrRTAdvancedColor | Mean correct response time (in ms) on color trials in the Advanced Game |
| trialCountAdvancedShape | Total number of Advanced Shape trials run |
| propCorrectAdvancedShape | Proportion correct shape trials in the Advanced Game |
| meanCorrRTAdvancedShape | Mean correct response time (in ms) on shape trials in the Advanced Game |
Categorical Summary Performance Metrics |
|
| dccsAdvanced | "pass" (75% correct or higher) "fail" otherwise |
| dccsAdvancedScore | If pass => 1; if fail => 0 |
| dccsScore | Only applicable if run in conjunction with Standard version 0 = participant failed 'Pre' block (Standard) 1 = participant passed 'Pre' block but failed 'Post' block (Standard) 2 = participant passed 'Pre' and 'Post' block (Standard) but failed Advanced version 3 = participant passed Advanced version |
File Name: dccs_advanced_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. |
| dccsStandardPreCategory | The game category (color vs. shape) that the participants started the DCCS standard version with (if applicable) |
| phase | "advanced" |
| trialCount | Trialcounter per phase |
| trialType | 1 = red (color) 2 = blue (color) 3 = bunny (shape) 4 = boat (shape) |
| cue | C(olor) vs. S(hape) |
| stim | The currently presented image (filename of image) |
| correctResponse | The correct response for the current trial |
| response | The participant's response (selected basket) |
| correct | Accuracy of response: 1 = correct response; 0 = otherwise |
| latency | The response latency (in ms); measured from: onset of card |
The procedure can be adjusted by setting the following parameters.
| Name | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
| showQuitButton | True = the script presents a convenient 'quit' button in the form of a gray X at the top of the screen. Once pressed, the script terminates. false = no quit button is presented | true |
| ruleReminderAdvanced | True = participants get reminded of the rules before each trial false = no rule reminders are given before each trial | false |
| numberOfTestTrials | The number of trials to run during the advanced test number needs to be divisible by 4 | 12 |
| dccsStandardPass | Participant needs to get 75% of the test trials correct to pass the advanced version | 0.75 |
Duration Parameter |
||
| cardDelay | Duration (in ms) between offset of cue sound file and onset of card | 500 |
| iti | The intertrial interval (in ms) btw. test trials | 500 |