___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ *Dimensional Change Card Sort (DCCS)* (Standard Version) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Script Author: Katja Borchert, Ph.D. (katjab@millisecond.com) for Millisecond Software, LLC Date: 11-04-2021 last updated: 04-06-2023 by K. Borchert (katjab@millisecond.com) for Millisecond Software, LLC Script Copyright © 04-06-2023 Millisecond Software Millisecond Software thanks Samantha Gualtieri for her help with this script! ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ BACKGROUND INFO ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ This script implements a computer implementation of the Standard 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 with several additional features 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 desktop computer screens. Reference Zelazo, P.D. (2006). The Dimensional Change Card Sort (DCCS): a method of assessing executive function in children. Nature Protocols, 1, pp. 297+. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ TASK DESCRIPTION ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Standard Version (this script): Blocked Conditions (color and shape trials are played in blocks) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Advanced Version (formerly: Border Version; Inquisit script dccs_advanced.iqx): Mixed Trials -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. Notes: * 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. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ DURATION ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Standard Version: takes appr. 5 minutes to complete Advanced Version: takes appr. 5 minutes to complete ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ DATA FILE INFORMATION ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The default data stored in the data files are: (1) Raw data file: 'dccs_standard_raw*.iqdat' (a separate file for each participant)* build: The specific Inquisit version used (the 'build') that was run computer.platform: the platform the script was run on (win/mac/ios/android) date, time: date and time script was run subject, group: with the current subject/groupnumber session: with the current session id blockcode, blocknum: the name and number of the current block (built-in Inquisit variable) trialcode, trialnum: the name and number of the currently recorded trial (built-in Inquisit variable) Note: trialnum is a built-in Inquisit variable; it counts all trials run; even those that do not store data to the data file. phase: 1 = PRE; 2 = POST trialCount: trialcounter per phase trialType: 1 = blue OR shape1 (bunny) 2 = red OR shape2 (boat) 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 DCCS_startCategory: "color" or "shape" countCorrect_pre: number correctly sorted PRE items countCorrect_post: number correctly sorted POST items DCCS_standard_pre: "pass" (80% or more correctly sorted PRE items) "fail" otherwise DCCS_standard_post: "pass" (80% or more correctly sorted POST items) "fail" otherwise (2) Summary data file: 'dccs_standard_summary*.iqdat' (a separate file for each participant)* inquisit.version: Inquisit version run computer.platform: the platform the script was run on (win/mac/ios/android) startDate: date script was run startTime: time script was started subjectid: assigned subject id number groupid: assigned group id number sessionid: assigned session id number elapsedTime: time it took to run script (in ms); measured from onset to offset of script completed: 0 = script was not completed (prematurely aborted); 1 = script was completed (all conditions run) DCCS_startCategory: "color" or "shape" countCorrect_pre: number correctly sorted PRE items countCorrect_post: number correctly sorted POST items DCCS_standard_pre: "pass" (80% or more correctly sorted PRE items) "fail" otherwise DCCS_standard_pre: "pass" (80% or more correctly sorted PRE items) "fail" otherwise DCCS_standard_post: "pass" (80% or more correctly sorted POST items) "fail" otherwise * separate data files: to change to one data file for all participants (on Inquisit Lab only), go to section "DATA" and follow further instructions ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Standard Version: Participants start with either a demo of the COLOR game or a demo of the SHAPE game. The start game is counterbalanced by groupnumber assignment. Group 1: starts with the COLOR game Group 2: starts with the SHAPE game 1. DEMO: The rules of the games are explained using 2 examples 2. PRACTICE: Participant has to sort 2 cards - only if both cards are sorted correctedly, does participant move on to the test phase. If participant fails 3 times in a row (see Editable Parameters), the script terminates prematurely. Feedback is provided during practice. 3. PRE (switch) - Test: Participants work through 6 trials (see Editable parameters) of the current game. By default, the rules of the current game are not explained again before each trial (go to Editable Parameters to change this default setting). No performance feedback is provided. After 6 trials the rules change and the other game is played. (if started with the COLOR game, participants are now switched to the SHAPE game and vice versa) 4. DEMO 2nd game 5. PRACTICE 2nd game 6. POST (switch): Participants work through 6 trials of the post-switch game. By default, the rules of the current game are NOT explained again before each trial (go to Editable Parameters to change this default setting). No performance feedback is provided. The script ends after 6 post trials. Participants 'pass' the DCCS if they respond correctly to at least 5 out of the 6 POST trials. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ STIMULI ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ provided by Millisecond Software - 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. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ INSTRUCTIONS ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ based on instructions suggested by Zelazo (2006). The script currently presents the instructions as text instructions only ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ EDITABLE CODE ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ check below for (relatively) easily editable parameters, stimuli, instructions etc. Keep in mind that you can use this script as a template and therefore always "mess" with the entire code to further customize your experiment. The parameters you can change are: