Return to the Mental Folding Test for Children (MFTC) page
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MENTAL FOLDING TEST FOR CHILDREN (MFTC)
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Script Author: Katja Borchert, Ph.D. (katjab@millisecond.com) for Millisecond Software, LLC
Date: 03-26-2019
last updated: 05-15-2020 by K. Borchert (katjab@millisecond.com) for Millisecond Software, LLC
Script Copyright © 05-15-2020 Millisecond Software
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BACKGROUND INFO
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This script implements a computerized version of the Mental Folding Test for Children (MFTC) published by:
Harris, J., Hirsh-Pasek, K. & Newcombe, N. S. (2013). A new twist on studying the development of dynamic
spatial transformations: Mental paper folding in young children. Mind, Brain and Education, 7, 49-55.
(see also: http://spatiallearning.org/index.php/testsainstruments)
Suggested Age Group: 4-7
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TASK DESCRIPTION
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Participants are asked to mentally fold paper following specific markings and then select
from amongst 4 options the one that represents the outcome of the mental folding.
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DURATION
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the default set-up of the script takes appr. 8 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: 'mentalpaperfolding_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 such as feedback trials. Thus, trialnum
may not reflect the number of main trials run per block.
parameters.colorCondition: 1 = green/purple
2 = orange/blue
stimulusitem.1: the current test image (to mentally fold)
stimulusitem.2- the four presented solution images from left to right
stimulusitem.5:
values.option1category-: C(orrect), E(xtension), D(istortion), or T(riangle)
values.option4category
response: the participant's response (option1-option4)
values.responsecategory: C=correct; E = Extension; D = Distortion; T = Triangle
values.correctoption: stores the correct option (1-4: from left to right)
correct: the correctness of the response (1 = correct; 0 = incorrect)
latency: the response latency (in ms)
values.count_C: counts all correct responses
values.count_E: counts all extension responses
values.count_D: counts all distortion responses
values.count_T: counts all triangle responses
(2) Summary data file: 'mentalpaperfolding_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)
values.count_C: counts all correct responses
values.count_E: counts all extension responses
values.count_D: counts all distortion responses
values.count_T: counts all triangle responses
expressions.propC: proportion correct responses
expressions.propE: proportion of extrension error responses (based on all problems)
expressions.propD: proportion of distension error responses (based on all problems)
expressions.propT: proportion of triangle error responses (based on all problems)
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EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP
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(1) Practice: 2 practice items
Practice Item 1 is also discussed during instructions with the help of the test administrator.
The practice problems are repeated until child selects the correct response.
(2) Test: 14 test problems (no feedback should be given)
Each prompt is presented with 4 response options.
Each response option is categorized as either C(orrect), E(xtension), D(istortion), or T(riangle)
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STIMULI
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Stimuli are the original green-purple stimuli provided at
http://spatiallearning.org/index.php/testsainstruments
A second set in orange-blue was generated by Millisecond Software.
The set selection is controlled via an editable parameter (parameters.colorCondition)
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INSTRUCTIONS
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Harris et al (2013) use actual paper models of the prompts and have the kids fold the models to train for
practice item #1.
The instructions used by Harris et al (2013) can be obtained from the authors or at
http://spatiallearning.org/index.php/testsainstruments.
The instructions provided in this script by Millisecond Software are written for the computer and presented in
form of htm-slides using scalable vector images (*.svg)
It is assumed that a test administrator works with the child while presenting them.
The slides can be edited/exchanged under EDITABLE CODE -> Editable Instructions.
The instruction block is optional. It can be skipped (see Editable Values); if they are skipped
the script jumps right into the first practice problem.
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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:
/skipinstructionblock: true = instruction block is skipped
false = instruction block is run (default)
/iti: intertrial interval is ms between selecting a response and the presentation of the next prompt
/colorCondition: 1 = runs the green/purple set
2 = runs the orange/blue set