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*MENTAL ROTATION for CHILDREN (with Mouse Rotation Training Module)*
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Script Author: Katja Borchert, Ph.D. (katjab@millisecond.com) for Millisecond Software, LLC
Date: 02-10-2015
last updated: 02-24-2022 by K. Borchert (katjab@millisecond.com) for Millisecond Software, LLC
Script Copyright © 02-24-2022 Millisecond Software
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BACKGROUND INFO
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This script implements a Mental Rotation Test and Training Module for children.
The input device for this script is the mouse.
The implemented procedure is based on:
Wiedenbauer, G. & Jansen-Osmann, P. (2008). Manual training of mental rotation in children.
Learning and Instruction, 18, 30-41.
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TASK DESCRIPTION
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For pre-posttest participants are presented 2 pictures of the same animal:
on the left, participants see the animal with a 0° rotation (the base stimulus) and
on the right, participants see a rotated animal (8 different rotation angles:
20°, 60°, 120°, 160°; clock and counterclockwise).
The rotated pic is either derived from the base stimulus or it is derived from the
mirror image of the base. Participants are asked to press a green button if the animals are the same
and a red button if they are different.
3 phases:
1. pretest
2. Training Module: Participant are asked to use the mouse to rotate the comparison images
3. Posttest
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DURATION
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the default set-up of the script takes:
pretest: appr. 7 minutes
Training: appr. 15 minutes
Posttest: appr. 15 minutes
= total time: appr. 37 minutes
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DATA FILE INFORMATION
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The default data stored in the data files are:
(1) Raw data file: 'mentalrotationtraining_children_mouse_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 such as feedback trials. Thus, trialnum
may not reflect the number of main trials run per block.
baseItemNumber: stores the current base animal item number being tested
(1 = bear....24 = turtle, in alphabetical order)
compItemNumber: stores the current comp animal item number
Note:
if Sameness = 1 then the comp item number should equal the base itemnumber
if Sameness = 2 then the comp item number be different from the base itemnumber
direction 1 = base looks left;
2 = base looks right
angle: stores the current rotation angle being tested
sameness: 1 = comp is the same as base;
2 = comp is mirror image of base(looks in opposite direction)
stimulusitem.1: the image presented as the base
stimulusitem.2: the image presented as the comp
Note: rotation is done on the comp image during runtime; no need for a different image file
response: the participant's key response (selected response button)
pre/posttest:
greenbutton_mouse (identical)
redbutton_mouse (mirror)
training:
mousemove, lbuttondown, rbuttondown (indicates being done with rotation)
responseCategory: pretest/posttest:
1 = same;
2 = mirror;
training:
"rotate"
"end rotation"
correct: the accuracy of the response (1 = correct; 0 = incorrect)
latency: the response latency (in ms); measured from onset of stimuli
preTest1-preTest6: the itemnumbers of the 6 pretest animals
training1-training12: the itemnumbers of the 12 training animals
posttest1-posttest12: the itemnumbers of the 12 posttest animals
(2) Summary data file: 'mentalrotationtraining_children_mouse_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)
Separate for Prestest/Posttest
propCorrect_overall: overall proportion correct (across all pretest/posttest trials)
mean_corrRT_overall: overall mean response time of correct responses (across all pretest/posttest trials)
///Main Effect: Sameness
propCorrect_same: proportion correct for all Same trials (across all angles)
mean_corrRT_same: mean response time of correct responses to Same trials (across all angles)
propCorrect_mirror: proportion correct for all Mirror trials (across all angles)
mean_corrRT_mirror: mean response time of correct responses to Mirror trials (across all angles)
///Main Effect: Angle
propCorrect_angle1: proportion correct for all angle1 (here: 22.5deg) (across same/mirror trials)
mean_corrRT_angle1: mean response time of correct responses to all angle1 (here: 22.5deg) trials (across same/mirror trials)
propCorrect_angle2: proportion correct for all angle2 (here: 67.5deg) (across same/mirror trials)
mean_corrRT_angle2: mean response time of correct responses to all angle2 (here: 67.5deg) trials (across same/mirror trials)
propCorrect_angle3: proportion correct for all angle3 (here: 112.5deg) (across same/mirror trials)
mean_corrRT_angle3: mean response time of correct responses to all angle3 (here: 112.5deg) trials (across same/mirror trials)
propCorrect_angle4: proportion correct for all angle1 (here: 157.5.5deg) (across same/mirror trials)
mean_corrRT_angle4: mean response time of correct responses to all angle1 (here: 157.5deg) trials (across same/mirror trials)
///Interaction: Sameness x Angle
propCorrect_same_angle1: proportion correct for all same Angle1 (here: 22.5deg) trials
mean_corrRT_same_angle1: mean response time of correct responses to all same Angle1 (here: 22.5deg) trials
propCorrect_same_angle2: proportion correct for all same Angle2 (here: 67.5deg) trials
mean_corrRT_same_angle2: mean response time of correct responses to all same Angle2 (here: 67.5deg) trials
propCorrect_same_angle3: proportion correct for all same Angle3 (here: 112.5deg) trials
mean_corrRT_same_angle3: mean response time of correct responses to all same Angle3 (here: 112.5deg) trials
propCorrect_same_angle4: proportion correct for all same Angle4 (here: 157.5deg) trials
mean_corrRT_same_angle4: mean response time of correct responses to all same Angle4 (here: 157.5deg) trials
propCorrect_mirror_angle1: proportion correct for all Mirror Angle1 (here: 22.5deg) trials
mean_corrRT_mirror_angle1: mean response time of correct responses to all Mirror Angle1 (here: 22.5deg) trials
propCorrect_mirror_angle2: proportion correct for all Mirror Angle2 (here: 67.5deg) trials
mean_corrRT_mirror_angle2: mean response time of correct responses to all Mirror Angle2 (here: 67.5deg) trials
propCorrect_mirror_angle3: proportion correct for all Mirror Angle3 (here: 112.5deg) trials
mean_corrRT_mirror_angle3: mean response time of correct responses to all Mirror Angle3 (here: 112.5deg) trials
propCorrect_mirror_angle4: proportion correct for all Mirror Angle4 (here: 157.5deg) trials
mean_corrRT_mirror_angle4: mean response time of correct responses to all Mirror Angle4 (here: 157.5deg) trials
Training:
propCorrect_Training: proportion correct Training performance
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EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP
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***Practice***
- trials start with the presentation of a homebutton on the button of the screen that needs to be clicked
(the homebutton ensures that the mouse is returned to a neutral place at the start of each trial).
- 24 trials = 2 animals * 6 rotation angles * 2 presentations (one with same comparison animal, the other with mirror comparison animal)
Note: the animals presented during practice are not used for any test condition
- 2 pictures of the same animal presented for each trial: left is the base (0° rotation); on the right is the rotated comparison stimuli
- 6 rotation angles: 15°, 90°, 165° degrees clockwise and counterclockwise
(Note: Wiedenbauer & Jansen-Osmann, 2008, don't specify the number of animals nor the practice angles used)
- half the base animals look to the left, the other to the right
- half the trials are 'same' trials (the other half present the mirror image as the comparison animal)
- random sampling without replacement
- positive and negative feedback is given by smiley/frowny faces
***pretest***
- trials start with the presentation of a homebutton on the button of the screen that needs to be clicked
(the homebutton ensures that the mouse is returned to a neutral place at the start of each trial).
A fixation cross is then presented for 500ms (editable value) followed by:
- 96 trials= 6 animals * 8 angles * 2 presentations (one with same comparison animal, the other with mirror comparison animal)
- 2 pictures of the same animal presented for each trial: left is the base (0° rotation); on the right is the rotated comparison stimuli
- 8 rotation angles: 22.5°, 67.5°, 112.5°, 157.5° (clock and counterclockwise); change under section Editable Parameters
- half the bases look to the left, the other to the right
- half the trials are 'same' trials (the other half present the mirror image as the comp animal)
- random sampling without replacement
* no feedback
***Training***
- one demo trial
- 192 trials = 12 animals (different from pretest) * 8 angles (same as for pretest) * 2 repetitions
- 2 pictures of the same animal presented for each trial: left is the base (0° rotation); on the right is the rotated comparison stimuli
- 8 rotation angles: 22.5°, 67.5°, 112.5°, 157.5° (clock and counterclockwise); change under section Editable Parameters
- participants can rotate the comparison stimuli clock and counterclockwise by mouse rotation
=> the script matches the current mouse coordinates to one of 12 rotation degrees. Thus, slight differences in mouse
coordinates may not always lead to a change in rotation
- if comparison stimuli look like the base, participants are asked to press the right mouse key
- feedback is provided
***Posttest***
- trials start with the presentation of a homebutton on the button of the screen that needs to be clicked
(the homebutton ensures that the mouse is returned to a neutral place at the start of each trial).
- 192 trials= 12 animals * 8 angles * 2 presentations (one with same comparison animal, the other with mirror comparison animal)
- 2 pictures of the same animal presented for each trial: left is the base (0° rotation); on the right is the rotated comparison stimuli
- 8 rotation angles: 22.5°, 67.5°, 112.5°, 157.5° (clock and counterclockwise); change under section Editable Parameters
- half the bases look to the left, the other to the right
- half the trials are 'same' trials (the other half present the mirror image as the comparison animal)
- random sampling without replacement
- no feedback
- 6 of the animals presented for the posttest are also used during training; the remaining 6 are new
!Note: assignment of 24 animals to pretest, training, posttest
In this script, the 24 animals are randomly assigned to pretest (6), training (12), posttest (12) by default.
Posttest and training share 6 animals. The assignment is therefore different for each participant.
Wiedenbauer & Jansen-Osmann (2008) used the following predetermined assignment
A. pretest: elephant; fox; alligator; cow; leopard; horse.
B. rotation training: bear; donkey; dog; pig; tiger; goat; monkey; bunny; cat; mouse; turtle; sea lion.
C. posttest: bear; donkey; dog; pig; tiger; goat; camel; lion; rhinoceros; deer; sheep; racoon.
To use this predetermined assignment, go to EDITABLE CODE -> Editable Lists -> list.assignanimals
and follow instructions.
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STIMULI
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Stimuli are animals from the 'Snodgrass and Vanderwart 'Like' Objects' introduced by
Rossion, B., & Pourtois, G. (2004). Revisiting Snodgrass and Vanderwart's object set:
The role of surface detail in basic-level object recognition. Perception, 33, 217-236.
The complete stimuli set can be downloaded at:
http://wiki.cnbc.cmu.edu/Objects
(Note: original link published in Rossion & Pourtois (2004) does not work as of Feb 2015)
2 Practice Stimuli: fish, frog
24 pretest Stimuli (6 randomly selected for the pretest)
alligator, bear, bunny, camel, cat, cow, deer, dog, donkey, elephant, fox, goat, horse
leopard, lion, monkey, mouse, pig, racoon, rhino, sealion, sheep, tiger, turtle
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INSTRUCTIONS
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The instructions used in this script are not original to Wiedenbauer & Jansen-Osmann (2008)
Instructions are presented htm files.
Instructions are not original to the task. They are provided by Millisecond Software
as htm/html pages and can be edited by changing the provided htm/html files.
To edit htm/html-files: open the respective documents in simple Text Editors such as TextEdit (Mac)
or Notepad (Windows).
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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:
/fontsize_fixation: fontsize of the fixation mark in screen height percentages (default: 15%)
/readyDuration: duration (in ms) of the get-ready-trial (default: 5000ms)
/fixationduration: presentation duration (in ms) of the fixation stimulus (default: 500ms)
Image Angles (used clock and counterclockwise)
/rotationAngle1: the smallest rotation angle (here: 22.5deg)
/rotationAngle2: the second smallest rotation angle (here: 67.5deg)
/rotationAngle3: the second largest rotation angle (here: 112.5deg)
/rotationAngle4: the largest rotation angle (here: 157.5deg)
