Return to the Reading the Mind in Films Task (Child Version) page
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*'READING THE MIND IN FILMS' - Child Version*
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Script Author: Katja Borchert, Ph.D. (katjab@millisecond.com) for Millisecond Software, LLC
Date: 08-18-2016
last updated: 03-11-2020 by K. Borchert (katjab@millisecond.com) for Millisecond Software, LLC
Script Copyright © 03-11-2020 Millisecond Software
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BACKGROUND INFO
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This script implements a computerized version of the "Reading the Mind in Films Task" (Child Version) by
Golan et al (2008). The Task provides a measure of complex emotion recognition in children.
References;
Ofer Golan, Simon Baron-Cohen & Yael Golan (2008). The ‘Reading the Mind in Films’ Task [Child Version]:
Complex Emotion and Mental State Recognition in Children with and without Autism Spectrum Conditions.
J Autism Dev Disord (2008) 38:1534–1541.
O. Golan, S. Baron-Cohen, J.J. Hill and Y. Golan, (2006)
The 'Reading the Mind in Films' Task: complex emotion recognition in adults with and without autism spectrum conditions
Social Neuroscience,1 (2), 111-123.
Notes:
Films can be downloaded from: https://www.autismresearchcentre.com/arc_tests
for genuine research purposes and acknowledgement of the ARC (Autism Research Centre - Cambridge University)
as the source
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TASK DESCRIPTION
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Participants view 22 film clips (+ 1 practice) and are asked to select one of 4 possible adjectives to describe the
emotion of one of the characters.
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DURATION
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the default set-up of the script takes appr. 15 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: 'readingnindinfilm_child_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.movie: stores the movie currently presented
stimulusitem.1-4: the presented stimuli in order of trial presentation
values.correctResponse: stores the correct response (A-D)
response: the participant's response (A-D)
correct: accuracy of response: 1 = correct response; 0 = otherwise
latency: the response latency (in ms); measured from: offset of movie
(2) Summary data file: 'readingnindinfilm_child_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)
expressions.propCorrect: proportion correct selections
expressions.meanRT: mean latency (in ms) of correct selections
expressions.SD_RT: standard deviation (in ms) of correct selection latencies
* separate data files: to change to one data file for all participants (on Inquisit Lab only), go to section
"DATA" and follow further instructions
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EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP
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* 24 short film clips (+ 1 practice clip)
-> order of films is the same for each participant (sequential sampling)
* Trial Sequence:
a) presentation of next target question + answer choices (continues upon Spacebar press)
b) presentation of film (+ presentation of target question + answer choices) (continues once movie ends)
c) Response collection via mouse click (optional definition handout presented on screen -> see Editable Parameters)
Note: Definition Handout (of the adjectives) provided with this script
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STIMULI
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Films and Materials made available for genuine research by ARC (Autism Research Centre - Cambridge University) at:
https://www.autismresearchcentre.com/arc_tests
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INSTRUCTIONS
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Instructions made available for genuine research by ARC (Autism Research Centre - Cambridge University) at:
https://www.autismresearchcentre.com/arc_tests
(minimal edits for this script)
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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:
/showDefinitionHandout: true: the Definition Handout is automatically presented as an htm-stimulus on screen anytime participants are asked to select a word
false: no Definition Handout is automatically presented (default)
Note: an Excel file of the Definition Handout by https://www.autismresearchcentre.com/arc_tests is provided with the script
/iti: intertrial interval in ms (default: 500)