Return to the Santa Barbara Solids Test page
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SANTA BARBARA SOLIDS TEST (SBST)
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Script Author: Katja Borchert, Ph.D. (katjab@millisecond.com) for Millisecond Software, LLC
Date: 02-23-2015
last updated: 11-05-2020 by K. Borchert (katjab@millisecond.com) for Millisecond Software, LLC
Script Copyright © 11-05-2020 Millisecond Software
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
BACKGROUND INFO
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
This script runs a computerized version of the Santa Barbara Solids Test (SBST);
a test of spatial reasoning.
The implemented procedure is based on:
Cohen, C. A. & Hegarty, M. (2012). Inferring cross sections of 3D objects: A new spatial thinking test.
Learning and Individual Differences, 22(6), 868-874.
additional material published at:
http://spatiallearning.org/index.php/testsainstruments
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TASK DESCRIPTION
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Participants see 29* 3-D figures cut in three cutting planes (horizonal, vertical, or oblique).
14 of the figures are cut in the oblique plane (one was dropped); 15 are cut in the vertical/horizontal plane.
10 problems represent cuts of simple figures, 10 problems represent cuts of joint figures, 9 problems represent
cuts of embedded figures.
The task is to select the correct cross section (viewed head-on) from amongst 4 possible choices.
*the test originally contained 30 figures but figure 3 was dropped from the test based on
Dr. Cohen's recommendations.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
DURATION
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
the default set-up of the script takes appr. 10 minutes to complete
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
DATA FILE INFORMATION
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The default data stored in the data files are:
(1) Raw data file: 'santabarbarasolidstest_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.
values.problemcount: tracks the number of problems presented
values.cuttingplane: 1 = vertical cut; 2 = horizontal cut; 3 = oblique cut
values.structure: 1 = simple; 2 = joint; 3 = embedded
stimulusitem.1: the image of the current problem
stimulusitem.2-
Stimulusitem.5: the images for response options A-D
values.egocentricaloption: stores the current egocentrical answer choice
values.correctoption: stores the currently correct answer choice
response: the participant's response (selection of answer choice)
values.respCat: "correct" vs. "egocentrial error" vs. "other error"
correct: the correctness of the response (1 = correct; 0 = incorrect)
latency: the response latency (in ms); measured from onset of problem
expressions.countcorrect: counts all correct responses
values.count_egocentric: counts egocentrial selections
expressions.count_h: counts all horizontal cut (h) figures
expressions.count_v: counts all vertical cut (v) figures
expressions.count_o: counts all oblique cut (o) figures
expressions.countcorrect_h: counts all correct horizontal cut (h) figures
expressions.countcorrect_v: counts all correct vertical cut (v) figures
expressions.countcorrect_o: counts all correct oblique cut (o) figures
expressions.count_s: counts all simple (s) figures
expressions.count_j: counts all joint (j) figures
expressions.count_e: counts all embedded (e) figures
expressions.countcorrect_s: counts all correct simple (s) figures
expressions.countcorrect_j: counts all correct joint (j) figures
expressions.countcorrect_e: counts all correct embedded (e) figures
(2) Summary data file: 'santabarbarasolidstest_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.problemcount: tracks the number of problems presented
expressions.propcorrect: proportion correct overall (across all test problems)
expressions.meanRT: mean response time (in ms) of selecting a correct option (across all test problems)
expressions.propEgocentrical: proportion egocentrial selections
expressions.propcorrect_h: proportion correct horizontal cut plane problems
expressions.propcorrect_v: proportion correct vertical cut plane problems
expressions.propcorrect_hv: proportion correct vertical+horizonal cut plane problems
expressions.propcorrect_o: proportion correct oblique cut plance problems
expressions.propcorrect_s: proportion correct responses to Simple problems
expressions.propcorrect_j: proportion correct responses to Joint problems
expressions.propcorrect_e: proportion correct responses to Embedded problems
expressions.meanRT_h: mean correct response time (in ms) to horizontal cut plane problems
expressions.meanRT_v: mean correct response time (in ms) to vertical cut plane problems
expressions.meanRT_hv: mean correct response time (in ms) to vertical+horizonal cut plane problems
expressions.meanRT_o: mean correct response time (in ms) to oblique cut plance problems
expressions.meanRT_s: mean correct response time (in ms) to responses to Simple problems
expressions.meanRT_j: mean correct response time (in ms) to responses to Joint problems
expressions.meanRT_e: mean correct response time (in ms) to responses to Embedded problems
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(1) Block.sample: presents one sample problem with feedback
(2) Block.sbst: presents the 29 problems in order (no feedback is provided)
* 29 figures total (one figure dropped based on recommendations:)
* 14 of the figures are cut in the oblique plane (one was dropped);
15 are cut in the vertical/horizontal plane.
* 10 problems represent cuts of simple figures, 10 problems represent cuts of joint figures,
9 problems represent cuts of embedded figures
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
STIMULI
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
This script uses the stimuli published at:
http://spatiallearning.org/resource-info/Spatial_Ability_Tests/Santa_Barbara_Solids_Test_rev_1210.pdf
The problems and answer choices were created as separate *.jpg files in Paint.net by
Millisecond Software.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
uses the instructions published at:
http://spatiallearning.org/resource-info/Spatial_Ability_Tests/Santa_Barbara_Solids_Test_rev_1210.pdf
The instructions are presented as htm-files that can be directly edited in any simple Text Editor such as
TextEdit (Mac) or Notepad (Win)
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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.
/highlightduration: stores the duration (in ms) of the blue ring around the selected answer choice