Script Author: Katja Borchert, Ph.D. (katjab@millisecond.com), Millisecond
Millisecond thanks Karolin Gieseler for her help with this script!
Created: January 02, 2017
Last Modified: January 08, 2024 by K. Borchert (katjab@millisecond.com), Millisecond
Script Copyright © Millisecond Software, LLC
This script implements the Math Effort Task based on:
Engle-Friedman, M., Riela, S., Golan, R., Ventuneac, A. M., Davis, C. M., Jefferson, A. D. and Major, D. (2003). The effect of sleep loss on next day effort. Journal of Sleep Research, 12: 113–124. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2869.2003.00351.x
20 minutes
Participants work through 100 addition problems. Each problem consists of 4 numbers (default; possible range: 2-5 digits) that are flashed onto the screen one-by-one and participants are asked to add the numbers in their head. Once the last number is erased, a textbox is provided to collect the participants' responses. The max duration for this sequence (start of number presentation to clicking the submit button) is ~15s by default (for 4 numbers).
The numbers for each problem are selected randomly but differ in their level of difficulty. Level 1: numbers are randomly selected from 1-3 Level 2: numbers are randomly selected from 3–9; Level 3: numbers are randomly selected from 7–15; Level 4: numbers are randomly selected from 7–25; Level 5: numbers are randomly selected from 7–35.
The level of difficulty is under the participant's control. By default, participants select a level of difficulty for a batch of 5 problems. Nevertheless, after each problem they get the option to change their selection of difficulty. Once changed, the new level again applies to the next 5 problems by default.
No feedback is provided during the task but the program keeps track of performance and calculates a final performance score that weighs the number of correct solutions by the problems' respective levels of difficulty.
1. Intro Block with a demonstration of a problem taken from each of the five levels of difficulties.
2. Test Block: 100 trials (default)
- at the start of the test block, participants select the default level of difficulty that automatically
applies to the next 5 (default) problems UNLESS participant opts to change level sooner.
- numbers are selected randomly with replacement from the level-corresponding pools of numbers
Problem Sequence: Max duration: ~15s (default)
GetReady (ITI: 1000ms) ->
Start of Problem: Number1 (800ms)->
ISI (500ms) ->
Number2 (800ms)->
ISI (500ms) ->
Number3** (800ms)->
ISI (500ms) ->
Number4** (800ms)->
textbox* ->
•During the test, participants also receive a second question that allows them to change the level
of difficulty for the next question(s)
Number presented in Arial, black on white, in the middle of the screen.
Size is proportional to the canvas height (default: 15%, can be set under section Editable Parameters)
instructions are not original to Engle-Friedman et al (2003).
They are provided by Millisecond and can be edited under section Editable Instructions.
File Name: mathefforttask_summary*.iqdat
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| inquisit.version | Inquisit version number |
| computer.platform | Device platform: win | mac |ios | android |
| 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 |
| nrDigits | Stores the number of digits presented (possible range: 2-5) |
| countTotalTrials | Tally of the number of test problems run |
| metScore | Final metScore, calculated by adjusting the number of correctly solved problems on each level by the difficulty factor of that level difficulty factor for level 5 => 5/5 = 1 difficulty factor for level 4 => 4/5 = 0.8 difficulty factor for level 3 => 3/5 = 0.6 difficulty factor for level 2 => 2/5 = 0.4 difficulty factor for level 1 => 1/5 = 0.2 MES_score = (correct solutions to level 5 problems x 1) + (correct solutions to level 4 problems x 0.8) + (correct solutions to level 3 problems x 0.6) + (correct solutions to level 2 problems x 0.4) + (correct solutions to level 1 problems x 0.2) |
| countLevelChange | Tallies the number of level changes |
| countLevel1 | Tally of level 1 problems attempted |
| countCorrectLevel1 | Tally of level 1 problems correctly solved |
| countLevel2 | Tally of level 2 problems attempted |
| countCorrectLevel2 | Tally of level 2 problems correctly solved |
| countLevel3 | Tally of level 3 problems attempted |
| countCorrectLevel3 | Tally of level 3 problems correctly solved |
| countLevel4 | Tally of level 4 problems attempted |
| countCorrectLevel4 | Tally of level 4 problems correctly solved |
| countLevel5 | Tally of level 5 problems attempted |
| countCorrectLevel5 | Tally of level 5 problems correctly solved |
File Name: mathefforttask_raw*.iqdat
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| build | Inquisit version number |
| computer.platform | Device platform: win | mac |ios | android |
| date | Date the session was run |
| time | Time the session was run |
| subject, group, | With the current subject/groupnumber |
| session | Session number |
| blockCode | Name of the current block |
| blockNum | Number of the current block |
| trialCode | Name of the current trial |
| trialNum | Number of the current trial |
| nrDigits | Stores the number of digits presented (possible range: 2-5) |
| countTotalTrials | Tally of the number of test problems run |
| currentLevel | Stores the level of difficulty of the current problem |
| countTrialsCurrentLevel | Tally of the number of trials run in the current batch |
| number1 | Stores the number selected for number1 (random selection) |
| number2 | Stores the number selected for number2 (random selection) |
| number3 | Stores the number selected for number3 (random selection) if fewer than 3 digits are presented, number3 = 0 |
| number4 | Stores the number selected for number4 (random selection) if fewer than 4 digits are presented, number4 = 0 |
| number5 | Stores the number selected for number5 (random selection) if fewer than 5 digits are presented, number5 = 0 |
| solution | Stores the correct solution to the current addition problem |
| currentResponse | Stores the response to the current addition problem |
| acc | 1: correct response provided; 0 = otherwise |
| rt | Stores the latency of responding; measured from onset of textbox until "continue" button is pressed |
| changeLevel | 1 = participant opted to make a (potential) level change; 0 = otherwise |
| countLevelChange | Tallies the number of level changes |
| countLevel1 | Tally of level 1 problems attempted |
| countCorrectLevel1 | Tally of level 1 problems correctly solved |
| countLevel2 | Tally of level 2 problems attempted |
| countCorrectLevel2 | Tally of level 2 problems correctly solved |
| countLevel3 | Tally of level 3 problems attempted |
| countCorrectLevel3 | Tally of level 3 problems correctly solved |
| countLevel4 | Tally of level 4 problems attempted |
| countCorrectLevel4 | Tally of level 4 problems correctly solved |
| countLevel5 | Tally of level 5 problems attempted |
| countCorrectLevel5 | Tally of level 5 problems correctly solved |
The procedure can be adjusted by setting the following parameters.
| Name | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
| numberSize | The size of the presented numbers proportional to the canvas height | 15% |
| numberDuration | The time (in ms) that each number is visible | 800ms |
| isi | The interstimulus interval (white screen) that is presented after the first three numbers | 500ms |
| rw | The max. Duration (in ms) the textbox is provided to submit the response. the max.trialduration (measured from onset of first number to removal of testbox) default: 4700ms + 10300ms = 15000ms 4700ms => the duration of the number presentation sequence for 4 numbers (4700ms = 4*800 + 3*500) | |
| iti | The intertrial interval (the duration of the 'get ready') in ms | 1000ms |
| maxNrTrials | The maximum number of test trials | 100 |
| numberBatchedProblems | The number of problems in a default problem batch | 5 |
| presentFinalScore | True (1): the final score is presented to the participant at the end of this script (default) false (0): the final score is not presented to the participant at the end of this script | |
| numberOfDigits | The number of digits that should be presented (possible range 2-5) numbers outside the possible range get automatically adjusted to be either 2 or 5 |