Script Author: Katja Borchert, Ph.D. (katjab@millisecond.com), Millisecond
Created: January 22, 2015
Last Modified: January 20, 2024 by K. Borchert (katjab@millisecond.com), Millisecond
Script Copyright © Millisecond Software, LLC
This script runs a computerized version of the "MrPeanut task-C", a task of visuo-spatial memory of colored information for children.
The implemented procedure is based on the following publications:
(1) DE RIBAUPIERRE, Anik, BAILLEUX, Christine. Development of attentional capacity in childhood: A longitudinal study. In: Weinert, F.E. & Schneider, W. Memory performance and competencies: Issues in growth and development. Mahwah NJ : Lauwrence Erlbaum, 1995. p. 45-70
And
(2) Morra S. (1994). Issues in working memory measurement: Testing for M capacity. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 17, 143-159 (see MrCucumber Test)
15 minutes
Participants view a clown figure called "Mr Peanut" who decorates himself with colorful stickers (in this script: 14 possible locations) for a set amount of time. Then Mr Peanut disappears and reappears without stickers. Participants are asked to select a sticker color and click on the locations of the stickers as they recall them.
Incorrect selections can be corrected (selecting a body part that already has a sticker results in sticker deletion). Recall for one image is over if a "Done" button is selected. This is NOT a timed task.
In this script: 2 ways of testing (see section Editable Values -> parameters.progressiveTesting)
1) progressive testing (see Morra, 1994): levels (1-7) are tested progressively. Participants get 3 trials per level. If a level is successfully mastered (at least one correct attempt per level), participants move up a level. If all 3 attempts per level fail, the test concludes. A values.progressiveTotalScore is calculated based on the rules outlined by Morra (1994): • for consecutive levels for which participant gets over 50% (for 3 trials -> 2/3) of the trials correct -> assign 1 • for remaining levels: add 1/3 point (depends on parameters.trialsPerLevel) for each correct response per level The order of the images is predetermined for the progressive testing mode (default setting)
2) all 21 images (7 levels * 3 images/level) are tested according to settings of list.indexSequence (see section Editable Lists -> Test Lists for more information) (either in random order or in a pre-determined order). This set-up is more in line with De Ribaupierre & Bailleux (1995).
1. Instructions: includes a training to select colors and point to the sticker positions (with the mouse)
while the decorated Mr Peanut is still visible. At this point in practice, only correct selections
are accepted (if incorrect stickers are selected, they are NOT placed on the empty Mr Peanut)
2. Practice (3 trials):
-> participants have to select colors and place the stickers on the empty Mr Peanut
-> Participants can correct sticker placements by selecting already placed stickers. This re-selection
results in the deletion of this particular sticker.
-> a practice trial lasts until the 'done' button is selected
-> Incorrect attempts are repeated until correct
3. Test: 7 levels with 3 trials each
-> trial.presentPic: retrieves relevant sticker information for this picture and decorates the empty Mr. Peanut picture accordingly.
The duration of trial.presentPic can be set separately for each level under section "Editable Values".
A posttrialpause of 1000ms (editable parameter; can be increased or decreased) is added to wipe out iconic memory.
-> trial.recall: lets participants select the 14 different body parts.
Selections can be changed until the "done" button is selected.
participants can select up to 14 stickers for each trial.
-> trial.summary: assesses the accuracy of the responses (both locations AND sticker colors have to be correctly recalled and
the number of selected stickers has to match the number of presented stickers)
DV (progressive testing): values.progressiveTotalScore (see Morra, 1994)
scoring for progressive testing:
• for consecutive levels for which participant gets over 50% (for 3 trials -> 2/3) of the trials correct -> assign 1
• for remaining levels: add 1/3 point (depends on parameters.trialsPerLevel) for each correct response per level
under Editable Code -> Editable Stimuli -> item.mrPeanut
See section "Editable Lists" for lists that control the number and location of stickers for
practice and test sessions. Lists can be edited if different sticker arrangements should be run.
provided by Millisecond under Editable Code -> Editable Instructions.
The instructions are based on those used by Dr. S. Morra.
File Name: mrpeanutC_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 |
| progressiveTesting | True (1) (default setting) = levels are tested progressively with 3 trials per level (if all three attempts fail at a level, the test concludes) false (0) = 21 images are tested (7 levels * 3 images per level) in a random order |
| maxLevel | Maximumm number of levels tested (default: 7) |
| finalLevel | Highest successful (at least one correct response) level |
| totalTrials | Tracks the number of trials across levels |
| errorAttempts | Calculates the number of incorrect attempts |
| correctAttempts | The number of correct attempts |
| progressiveTotalScore | Scoring for progressive testing: (see Morra, 1994) * for consecutive levels for which participant gets over 50% (for 3 trials -> 2/3) of the trials correct -> assign 1 * for remaining levels: add 1/3 point for each correct response per level (depends on Parameter-trialsPerLevel) |
File Name: mrpeanutCRaw*.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 | Participant ID |
| group | Group number |
| 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 |
| progressiveTesting | True (1) (default setting) = levels are tested progressively with 3 trials per level (if all three attempts fail at a level, the test concludes) false (0) = 21 images are tested (7 levels * 3 images per level) in a random order attempts |
| totalTrials | Tracks the number of attempts/trials started across levels |
| picPresentationTime | Duration in ms that current Mr Peanut is presented |
| index | The currently selected image index number 1, 2, 3 => 3 images for level 1 4, 5, 6 => 3 images for level 2 7, 8, 9 => 3 images for level 3 10, 11, 12 => 3 images for level 4 13, 14, 15 => 3 images for level 5 16, 17, 18 => 3 images for level 6 19, 20, 21 => 3 images for level 7 |
| level | Current level tested (1-7) |
| countStickers | Counts the number of stickers placed on the current Mr Peanut |
| countCorrStickers | Counts the correctly placed stickers per attempt on the current Mr Peanut |
| countCorrColors | Counts the correct colors chosen |
| countCorrColorstickers | Counts the correctly placed stickers of the correct color per attempt |
| errorAttempt | 1 = error; (overall error evaluation) 0 = correct (color and placement of the correct number of stickers was correct) |
| consecutiveScoring | Tracks whether consecutive scoring still applies to the current level |
| correctPerLevel | Sums up the correct responses per level |
| progressiveTotalScore | Scoring for progressive testing: (see Morra, 1994) * for consecutive levels for which participant gets over 50% (for 3 trials -> 2/3) of the trials correct -> assign 1 * for remaining levels: add 1/3 point for each correct response per level (depends on Parameter-trialsPerLevel) |
| correctAttempts | Calculates the number of correct attempts |
| finalLevel | Highest successful (at least one correct response) level |
| responseString | Stores all the selected body parts of the current picture in the order they were selected/de-selected |
| stop | 1 = stop condition has been met; 0 = otherwise Information about the currently presented image |
| nrStickers | Stores the number of stickers of the currently presented Mr Peanut legLColor - |
| noseColor | Variables that store whether the currently presented Mr Peanut presented the following stickers color name = a colored sticker of that color was presented on respective body part 0 = no sticker on body part was presented legLSelectedColor- |
| noseSelectedColor | Color name = body part was decorated with a sticker of that color 0 = body part was not decorated |
| presentedColorsList | A string variable containing all the presented colors |
| selectedColorsList | A string variable containing all the selected colors |
The procedure can be adjusted by setting the following parameters.
| Name | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
| progressiveTesting | True (default setting) = levels are tested progressively with 3 trials per level (if all three attempts fail at a level, the test concludes) false = 21 images are tested (7 levels * 3 images per level) in a random order | |
| picPresentationTime1:- | ||
| picPresentationTime7 | The time the current picture is presented in ms depending on level | 1000ms/sticker |
| recallDelay | Delay of recall trial in ms to wipe out iconic memory | 1000ms |
| iti | The intertrial interval | |
| stickerHeight | Controls the size of the response buttons; in % of canvas height | 10% |
| trialsPerLevel | Number of images per level ! this should only be edited if the sticker lists under section "Editable Lists" are changed accordingly | 3 |
| maxLevel | Maximumm number of levels tested ! this should only be edited if the sticker lists under section "Editable Lists" are changed accordingly | 7 |