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GENERAL KNOWLEDGE TASK
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Script Author: Katja Borchert, Ph.D. (katjab@millisecond.com) for Millisecond Software, LLC
Date: 11-19-2012
last updated: 11-11-2019 by K. Borchert (katjab@millisecond.com) for Millisecond Software, LLC
Script Copyright © 11-11-2019 Millisecond Software
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BACKGROUND INFO
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This script implements the General Knowledge Task as used in:
Redick, T.S., Shipstead, Z., Fried, D.E., Hambrick, D.Z., Kane, M.J. & Engle, R.W. (2012).
No Evidence of Intelligence Improvement After Working Memory Training: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study.
Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 1-21.
( http://www.psychology.gatech.edu/renglelab/publications/2012/RedicketalJEPG.pdf)
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TASK DESCRIPTION
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Participants work through 10 general knowledge questions (Note: questions are culturally sensitive).
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DURATION
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the default set-up of the script takes appr. 7 minutes to complete
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DATA FILE INFORMATION
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The default data stored in the data files are:
(1) Raw data file: 'generalknowledge_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
script.sessionid: 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.
parameters.taskduration: time alloted to the entire task in ms (default: 420000ms = 7min)
stimuluitem.1-stimulusitem.2: the presented stimuli in order of trial presentation
choice1-choice4: contains the stimulus for the 4 choices
correctchoice: stores the correct choice
response: the participant's response
correct: the correctness of the response (1 = correct; 0 = otherwise)
latency: the response latency (in ms); measured from onset of question
numcorrect: sum up all correct responses
(2) Summary data file: 'generalknowledge_summary*.iqdat' (a separate file for each participant)
computer.platform: the platform the script was run on (win/mac/ios/android)
script.startdate: date script was run
script.starttime: time script was started
script.subjectid: assigned subject id number
script.groupid: assigned group id number
script.sessionid: assigned session id number
script.elapsedtime: time it took to run script (in ms); measured from onset to offset of script
script.completed: 0 = script was not completed (prematurely aborted);
1 = script was completed (all conditions run)
parameters.taskduration: time alloted to the entire task (default: 420000ms = 7min)
numcorrect: sum up all correct responses
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EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP
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The script presents 10 general knowledge trials (block.generalknowledge)
Each trial presents a target question and 4 answer choices. After participants select their choice via mouse-click,
the selection gets briefly highlighted before the next trial starts.
There are 2 practice problems to familiarize participants with the set-up.
There are 7 min allotted to finish block.generalknowledgetask (default, can be changed under
section EDITABLE PARAMETERS). A clock on the screen counts down the min/s for the participants.
60s (default, can be changed under section EDITABLE PARAMETERS) before the 7 min are up,
a red circle appears around the clock to highlight the remaining time.
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STIMULI
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Stimuli can be edited under section Editable Stimuli
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INSTRUCTIONS
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Instructions can be edited under section Editable Instructions
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EDITABLE CODE
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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:
/taskduration: time alloted to the entire task in ms (default: 420000ms = 7min)
/timereminder: a red circle appears around the clock at this time to highlight how much time is left (default: 60000ms = 1min left)