___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SYMBOL DIGIT SUBSTITUTION TASK - (VERSION 1)
- mouse/touch input
- scrolling version-
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Script Author: Katja Borchert, Ph.D. (katjab@millisecond.com) for Millisecond Software, LLC
last updated: 02-17-2025 by K. Borchert (katjab@millisecond.com) for Millisecond Software, LLC
Script Copyright © 02-17-2025 Millisecond Software
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
BACKGROUND INFO
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
This script is based on the computerized Inquisit version of the WISC Coding Task (PROCESSING SPEED TASK)
developed byAmy Finn (Ph.D), John Gabrieli (Ph.D.) and Julia Leonard.
Symbols provided by Millisecond Software.
This script version asks participants to convert digits into symbols and uses mouse/touch input.
This script task is developed for touchscreens but will adapt to mouse use on non-touchscreens.
Researchers can select to run the task with an absolute screen size to ensure that distances
stay the same across devices. The default settings are optimized for ipad touchscreens.
See section Editable Parameters for more info.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TASK DESCRIPTION
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Participant are presented with a 2 (row) x 9 (columns) matrix.
The first row contains a sequence of digits; the second row contains boxes to be filled with
digit-matching symbols.
The task is to translate digits into symbols with the help of a provided key within a 2 min time frame.
Participants have to select symbols from blue buttons placed below the matrix - the symbols are
arranged in a random order to avoid an obvious mapping between rank and symbol (e.g. the symbol corresponding to
1 should not be placed in the number 1 button slot etc.)
The first 4 boxes of the second row contain previously entered symbols (from the previous 4 trials);
the fifth box is highlighted in purple and awaits the current symbol selection.
The remaining 4 boxes of the second row are empty (the matching digits for the next 4 trials can be seen).
Once a participant selects the current symbol, the digits/symbol move to the left
and a new digit box is added to the right.
The result: The highlighted response box always stays in the center of the matrix and
the next digit conveniently 'scrolls' in.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
DURATION
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
the default set-up of the script takes appr. 3.5 minutes to complete
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
DATA FILE INFORMATION
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The default data stored in the data files are:
(1) Raw data file: 'symboldigitsubstitutiontask_scrolling_test1.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
//Play Setup:
(parameter) runAbsoluteSizes: true (1) = should run absolutely sized canvas (see parameters- canvasHeight_inmm)
false (0) = should use proportionally sized canvas (uses width = 43*screenHeight)
canvasAdjustments: NA: not applicable => parameters- runAbsoluteSize was set to 'false'
0: parameters- runAbsoluteSize was set to 'true' and screen size was large enough
1: parameters- runAbsoluteSize was set to 'true' BUT screen size was too small and
adjustments had to be made
display.canvasHeight: the height of the active canvas ('playarea') in pixels
display.canvasWidth: the width of the active canvas ('playarea') in pixels
px_per_mm: the conversion factor to convert pixel data into mm-results for the current monitor
(Note: the higher resolution of the current monitor
the more pixels cover the same absolute screen distance)
This factor is needed if you want to convert pixel data into absolute mm data or the other way around
playareaHeight_inmm: the width of the play area in mm
playareaWidth_inmm: the height of the play area in mm
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.
version: the version of the Inquisit Digit Symbol Substitution Task run
box: stores the itemnumber of the currently LAST presented digit
correctanswer: the correct response for the currently ACTIVE digit
response: pressed response button
correct: 1 if given response is correct, 0 if given response is incorrect
latency: time in milliseconds for the current response
correctCount: total count of correct responses
errorcount: total count of erroroneous responses
(2) Summary data file: 'symboldigitsubstitutiontask_scrolling_test1.iqdat' (Inquisit Lab: a separate file per 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)
//Play Setup:
(parameter) runAbsoluteSizes: true (1) = should run absolutely sized canvas (see parameters- canvasHeight_inmm)
false (0) = should use proportionally sized canvas (uses width = 43*screenHeight)
canvasAdjustments: NA: not applicable => parameters- runAbsoluteSize was set to 'false'
0: parameters- runAbsoluteSize was set to 'true' and screen size was large enough
1: parameters- runAbsoluteSize was set to 'true' BUT screen size was too small and
adjustments had to be made
display.canvasHeight: the height of the active canvas ('playarea') in pixels
display.canvasWidth: the width of the active canvas ('playarea') in pixels
px_per_mm: the conversion factor to convert pixel data into mm-results for the current monitor
(Note: the higher resolution of the current monitor
the more pixels cover the same absolute screen distance)
This factor is needed if you want to convert pixel data into absolute mm data or the other way around
playareaHeight_inmm: the width of the play area in mm
playareaWidth_inmm: the height of the play area in mm
version: the version of the Inquisit Digit Symbol Substitution Task run
totalseconds: maximum time in seconds allowed for the task
correctCount: total count of correct responses
errorcount: total count of erroroneous responses
secondspercorrect: average number of seconds per correct response
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(A) PRACTICE:
* 9 boxes with digits on tops and symbols (or space for symbols) on the bottom
* the first 4 present symbols and digits, the last 5 digits need to be filled in by participant
* the center box (box 5) that needs to be filled in next is highlighted in purple
* participants select the matching symbol for box5 via blue response buttons
* if the answer is correct, the answer is filled in the box, the digit/symbols move to the left
and the next digit 'scrolls' above the purple response box.
* if the answer is incorrect, a text stimulus (in red) appears that reminds participant to correct
the answer.
* once all practice boxes are filled in correctly, participants continue on to the test
* after a final instruction screen comes up, participants press a button to start the test
(B) TIMED TEST:
* 9 boxes with digits on tops and symbols (or space for symbols) on the bottom
* the first 4 present symbols and digits, the last 5 digits need to be filled in by participant
* the empty response box (box 5) for the next digit is highlighted in purple
* participants select the matching symbol for box5 via blue response buttons
* there is no more performance feedback
* participant cannot correct their answers nor jump ahead.
* after two minutes the test ends.
(C) SYMBOL SEQUENCE:
the order of the symbols can be edited under section EDITABLE LISTS
Follow instructions.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
All instruction stimuli are presented under section EDITABLE INSTRUCTIONS.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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:
