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*Adaptive Composite Complex Span Test (ACCES)*
Subtest: Symmetry Span Test (SSPAN)
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Script Author: Katja Borchert, Ph.D. (katjab@millisecond.com) for Millisecond Software, LLC
Date: 05-29-201904
last updated: 10-21-2024 by K. Borchert (katjab@millisecond.com) for Millisecond Software, LLC
Script Copyright © 10-21-2024 Millisecond Software
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BACKGROUND INFO
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This script implements the Symmetry Span test subtest of the Adaptive Composite Complex Span Test (ACCES);
an adaptive test of working memory with visuospatial ("symmetry span test"), mathematical ("operation span test")
and verbal subtests ("reading span test") for children ages 8-13.
The ACCES was developed by Gonthier et al (2018). According to the authors "the test presents a fixed number
of trials to all participants, allows for partial credit scoring, and can be used with children regardless
of ability level. The ACCES demonstrated satisfying psychometric properties in a sample of 268 children
aged 8©13 years." (p.910)
All materials for the ACCES © including the stimuli, an open source implementation
of the task script under PsychoPy (Peirce, 2007), and all validation data © can be accessed via the Open Science
Framework platform at https://osf.io/bk7pm/.
Norms in this script (based on grade level) use the data provided by Gonthier et al (2018)
collected with a sample of French students.
Reference:
Gonthier, C., Thomassin, N., & Roulin, J.-L. (2016). The Composite Complex Span:
French validation of a short working memory task. Behavior Research Methods, 48(1), 233-242.
doi:10.?3758/?s13428-015-0566-3
Gonthier C, Aubry A, Bourdin B. (2018). Measuring working memory capacity in children using adaptive tasks:
Example validation of an adaptive complex span. Behav Res Methods. Jun;50(3):910-921.
doi: 10.3758/s13428-017-0916-4. PMID: 28643158.
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TASK DESCRIPTION
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Participants work on 6 symmetry span test trials. Levels for each trial (after the first) are adapted
based on performance.
Symmetry Span Test: a dual task involving the evaluation of simple symmetry problems while
also trying to remember spatial location in a 4x4 matrix:
Evaluation of Symmetry Problem -> Matrix Position Learning -> .....-> Matrix Positions Recall
The number of 'symmetry-evaluations/spatial position learning' combos depends on the level of difficulty
(=span size) of the current test trial. All participants start at level 4. Depending on performance
they move up, stay on the same level, or go down a level. The lowest level tested is level 2;
the highest level tested in the SSPAN is level 7.
The task provides 3 practice session before the actual 6 test trials are run:
Practice 1: training of the spatial location recall task
Practice 2: training of the symmetry evaluation task
Practice 3: dual training of the combined task
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Duration
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the default set-up of the script takes appr. 9 minutes to complete
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DATA OUTPUT DICTIONARY
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The fields in the data files are:
(1) Raw data file: 'acces_sspan_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.
age: the entered age of the participant
gradeLevel: the entered grade level of the participant
gender: the entered gender of the participant
phase: stores the name of the current task phase
roundCount: counts the rounds ("trials") run in the current phase
currentLevel: stores the levelspansize tested in the current round
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Processing Task Variables:
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processingTaskProblem: stores the current processing task problem (e.g. symmetry evaluation) presented
correctResponse: stores the correct response to the current processing task problem (TRUE vs. FALSE)
processingTaskResponse: stores the given response to the current processing task problem (TRUE vs. FALSE)
processingTaskAcc: stores the accuracy of the processing task response
1 = correct
0 = error
processingTaskCumAcc: stores the number of correct processing task responses
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Memory Task Variables:
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stim: stores the current recall stim (e.g. Matrix position) presented
currentStims: stores the collected recall stims of the current round in the order presented
recallResponse: stores the recall stims of the current round in the order selected on the recall matrix
numberStimsRecalled: stores the number of correctly recalled stims of the current round
totalStimsRecalled: stores the total number of correctly recalled stims during the current task
stimulusItem: the presented stimuli in order of trial presentation of the currently recorded trial
response: the participant's response (scancode of response buttons) of the currently recorded trial
correct: accuracy of response: 1 = correct response; 0 = otherwise of the currently recorded trial
latency: the response latency (in ms) of the current trial
(2) Summary data file: 'acces_sspan_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)
age: the entered age of the participant
gradeLevel: the entered grade level of the participant
gender: the entered gender of the participant
ssDurationS: the SSPAN task duration in seconds
ssTotalStimsRecalled: the total number of matrix positions recalled across all 6 SSPAN test rounds
ssZScore: the calculated z-score of the total number of recalled matrix positions across all 6 SSPAN test rounds
ssPercentile: the calculated percentile of the z-score of the total number of recalled matrix positions across all 6 SSPAN test trials
Note: mean and standard deviation used to calculate z-scorespercentile ranks are based on published data
by Gonthier et al (2018) using a sample of French students. For more detail see Gonthier et al (2018).
list.ssProcessingAccOverall.mean: the mean proportion correct Processing Task ('symmetry problems') performance across
all 6 SSPAN test rounds
ssProcessingTaskFlag: 1 = the mean proportion correct SSPAN Processing Task ('symmetry problems') performance is below 70% correct
(SSPAN performance is flagged)
0 = otherwise (SSPAN performance is not flagged)
list.ssCurrentLevels.mean: the average SSPAN span size worked on
list.ssCurrentLevels.minimum: the minimum SSPAN span size worked on (lowest possible span size tested: 2)
list.ssCurrentLevels.maximum: the maximum SSPAN span size worked on (highest possible span size tested: 8)
ssLevel2Count: number of times span size 2 was run during the SSPAN
ssLevel3Count: number of times span size 3 was run during the SSPAN
ssLevel4Count: number of times span size 4 was run during the SSPAN
ssLevel5Count: number of times span size 5 was run during the SSPAN
ssLevel6Count: number of times span size 6 was run during the SSPAN
ssLevel7Count: number of times span size 7 was run during the SSPAN
ssLevel8Count: number of times span size 8 was run during the SSPAN
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SSPAN Descriptive Statistics by Round:
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ssLevelRound1: SSPAN span size tested during Round 1 (by default: 4)
ssProblemCumAccRound1: number of correctly answered SSPAN Processing Task ('symmetry evaluation task') problems during Round 1
ssProcessingAccRound1: proportion correct SSPAN Processing Task ('symmetry evaluation task') performance during Round 1
ssStimsRound1: the presented SSPAN recall stims ('matrix positions') during Round 1 (in the order presented)
ssRecallResponseRound1: the recalled SSPAN stims ('matrix positions') during Round 1 (in the order selected)
ssNumberStimsRecalledRound1: the number of correctly recalled SSPAN stims ('matrix positions') during Round 1
ssLevelRound2: SSPAN span size tested during Round 2
ssProblemCumAccRound2: number of correctly answered SSPAN Processing Task ('symmetry evaluation task') problems during Round 2
ssProcessingAccRound2: proportion correct SSPAN Processing Task ('symmetry evaluation task') performance during Round 2
ssStimsRound2: the presented SSPAN recall stims ('matrix positions') during Round 2 (in the order presented)
ssRecallResponseRound2: the recalled SSPAN stims ('matrix positions') during Round 2 (in the order selected)
ssNumberStimsRecalledRound2: the number of correctly recalled SSPAN stims ('matrix positions') during Round 2
ssLevelRound3: SSPAN span size tested during Round 3
ssProblemCumAccRound3: number of correctly answered SSPAN Processing Task ('symmetry evaluation task') problems during Round 3
ssProcessingAccRound3: proportion correct SSPAN Processing Task ('symmetry evaluation task') performance during Round 3
ssStimsRound3: the presented SSPAN recall stims ('matrix positions') during Round 3 (in the order presented)
ssRecallResponseRound3: the recalled SSPAN stims ('matrix positions') during Round 3 (in the order selected)
ssNumberStimsRecalledRound3: the number of correctly recalled SSPAN stims ('matrix positions') during Round 3
ssLevelRound4: SSPAN span size tested during Round 4
ssProblemCumAccRound4: number of correctly answered SSPAN Processing Task ('symmetry evaluation task') problems during Round 4
ssProcessingAccRound4: proportion correct SSPAN Processing Task ('symmetry evaluation task') performance during Round 4
ssStimsRound4: the presented SSPAN recall stims ('matrix positions') during Round 4 (in the order presented)
ssRecallResponseRound4: the recalled SSPAN stims ('matrix positions') during Round 4 (in the order selected)
ssNumberStimsRecalledRound4: the number of correctly recalled SSPAN stims ('matrix positions') during Round 4
ssLevelRound5: SSPAN span size tested during Round 5
ssProblemCumAccRound5: number of correctly answered SSPAN Processing Task ('symmetry evaluation task') problems during Round 5
ssProcessingAccRound5: proportion correct SSPAN Processing Task ('symmetry evaluation task') performance during Round 5
ssStimsRound5: the presented SSPAN recall stims ('matrix positions') during Round 5 (in the order presented)
ssRecallResponseRound5: the recalled SSPAN stims ('matrix positions') during Round 5 (in the order selected)
ssNumberStimsRecalledRound5: the number of correctly recalled SSPAN stims ('matrix positions') during Round 5
ssLevelRound6: SSPAN span size tested during Round 6
ssProblemCumAccRound6: number of correctly answered SSPAN Processing Task ('symmetry evaluation task') problems during Round 6
ssProcessingAccRound6: proportion correct SSPAN Processing Task ('symmetry evaluation task') performance during Round 6
ssStimsRound6: the presented SSPAN recall stims ('matrix positions') during Round 6 (in the order presented)
ssRecallResponseRound6: the recalled SSPAN stims ('matrix positions') during Round 6 (in the order selected)
ssNumberStimsRecalledRound6: the number of correctly recalled SSPAN stims ('matrix positions') during Round 6
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SSPAN Training Performance:
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ssSpanTaskTrainingCount: the number of times the SSPAN span task training was run (SSPAN practice 1)
ssProcessingTaskTrainingCount: the number of times the SSPAN processing task training was run (SSPAN practice 2)
ssDualTaskTrainingCount: the number of times the SSPAN span task training was run (SSPAN practice 3)
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SSPAN Processing Task duration:
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ssProcessingTaskMaxDuration: the maximum duration (in ms) that SSPAN processing Task problems ('symmetry problems')
are presented during the Dual Task Training block (=practice3) and the actual Test rounds.
This duration was calculated based on the Median Processing Task Duration during
the Processing Task Training (=practice2):
'SS ProcessingTask medianRT' + 2.5 x 'SS Processing Task MAD RT'
ssProcessingRTMedian: the median response latency answering SSPAN processing task problems ('symmetry problems') during practice2
ssProcessingRTMAD: Median Absolute Deviation (MAD) of response latencies answering SSPAN processing task problems during practice2
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EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP
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Note: level = span size
4 phases:
PHASE 1: Practice 1 -Matrix position Recall Training ("Memory Task")
Participants work on 2 trials (level 2, followed by level 3) with a fixed set of stimuli for each round.
During this phase, they only work on the Matrix position Recall task (no symmetry problems are presented)
Trial Sequence:
blank (700ms)->Start Fixation Cross (presented for 1200ms) -> blank (for 500ms) ->
Matrix position (800ms) -> Blank (800ms) -> Matrix position (800ms) -> Blank (800ms) -> .......-> Blank (700ms)
-> Recall Screen (as long as needed, corrections possible) -> Feedback (3000ms)
At the end of Practice1, recall performance is analyzed and the practice block is repeated
IF mean recall performance is under 70% correct.
(recall performance: the number of Matrix positions correctly recalled in the exact position of presentation)
PHASE 2: Practice 2 - Symmetry Problem Evaluation Training ("Processing Task")
Participants work on 10 Symmetry Problems and evaluate them to be 'true' (when symmetric) or 'false' (when asymmetric).
The Symmetry Problems are the same for each participant and are presented in fixed order.
No Matrix position Recall task is run.
Trial Sequence:
blank (700ms)->Start Fixation Cross (presented for 1200ms) -> blank (for 500ms) ->
Symmetry Problem (max. 8000ms) -> Feedback (3000ms) -> Blank (150ms) -> Symmetry Problem (max. 8000ms) -> Feedback (3000ms)....
At the end of this practice round, symmetry performance is analyzed and the practice block is repeated
if the proportion correctly evaluated Symmetry Problems is under 70% correct.
Furthermore, the duration of the symmetry problem presentation for the test trials is calculated:
median time (in ms) the problems were answered + 2.5 x Median Absolute Deviation (MAD).
(Range: 2000ms - 8000ms)
PHASE 3: Practice 3 - Dual Task Training
Participants work on 2 combined trials (level 2, level 3). The stimuli are the same for all participants
and are presented in fixed order.
Trial Sequence:
blank (700ms)->Start Fixation Cross (presented for 1200ms) -> blank (for 500ms) ->
Symmetry Problem (calculated presentation time during practice 2) -> Blank (150ms) ->
Matrix position (800ms) -> Blank (800ms) ->
Symmetry Problem (calculated presentation time during practice 2) -> Blank (150ms) ->
Matrix position (800ms) -> Blank (800ms) -> .....
Matrix position (800ms) -> Blank (700ms) -> Recall Screen
At the end of this practice round, performance is analyzed and feedback is provided.
PHASE 4: Test (Dual Task)
Participants work on 6 combined trials (starting level = 3; levels are adjusted based on performance
thereafter). Each trial (1-6) presents the stimuli from the same stimuli lists in the same order
(though not all participants will work on all the possible stimuli of a particular trial as this is
level dependent). No more feedback is provided.
Trial Sequence:
blank (700ms)->Start Fixation Cross (presented for 1200ms) -> blank (for 500ms) ->
Symmetry Problem (calculated presentation time during practice 2) -> Blank (150ms) ->
Matrix position (800ms) -> Blank (800ms) ->
Symmetry Problem (calculated presentation time during practice 2) -> Blank (150ms) ->
Matrix position (800ms) -> Blank (800ms) -> .....
Matrix position (800ms) -> Blank (700ms) -> Recall Screen
During each round, the computer calculates
a. processing task performance (here: symmetry performance)
b. recall performance
- the number of correctly recalled Matrix positions
- the total number of correctly recalled Matrix positions
At the end of each round, the next level is determined based on recall performance:
1. levels goes down by 1 for recall performance less than 60%
2. levels stay the same for 60% <= recall performance < 100%
3. levels go up by 1 for perfect recall performance (100% correct)
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STIMULI
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All stimuli are provided by Gonthier et al (2018)
All materials for the ACCES © including the stimuli, an open source implementation
of the task script under PsychoPy (Peirce, 2007), and all validation data © can be accessed via the Open Science
Framework platform at https://osf.io/bk7pm/.
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INSTRUCTIONS
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Instructions are modelled after the ones used in the e-prime script provided
by Gonthier et al (2018).
The instructions in this script are provided by 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).
Note: in order for the instructions to reflect alternative parameter settings,
some of the conditionalized code used in the htm files can be found in the script itself.
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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: see below
//User Interface Sizing Parameters;
/ ssFixationCrossHeight = 20% //sets the size of the fixation cross (presented during practice blocks) relative to canvas height
/ ssMatrixSize = 65% //sets the size of the recall matrix relative to the canvas
/ ssProblemHeight = 80% //sets the height of the presented symmetry images relative to canvas height
//Duration Parameters:
/ ssPreFixationDuration = 700 //sets the duration (in ms) of the blank space that precedes the fixation cross at the beginning of each trial
/ ssFixationDuration = 1200 //sets the duration (in ms) of the fixation cross presented on screen
/ ssFixationStimISI = 500 //sets the duration (in ms) of the blank space that follows the fixation cross before the first Matrix position is presented
/ ssProcessingProblemMaxDuration = 8000 //sets the max duration (in ms) that an equation is presented on screen (used during practice 2)
/ ssProcessingProblemMinDuration = 2000 //sets the minimum duration (in ms) that an equation is presented on screen
/ ssProcessingResponseISI = 150 //sets the duration (in ms) of the blank space that follows a response to the equation problem before the next Matrix position is presented
/ ssStimDelay = 100 //sets the delay (in ms) with which the stim (red matrix position) is revealed in the matrix
/ ssStimPresentationDuration = 800 //sets the duration (in ms) that each Matrix position is presented on screen
/ ssIsi = 800 //sets the duration (in ms) of the blank space that follows the presentation of a Matrix position before the next Matrix position/next equation is presented
/ ssRecallDelay = 700 //sets the duration (in ms) of the blank space that follows the last Matrix position before the recall matrix is presented
/ ssSingleTaskFeedbackDuration = 3000 //sets the duration (in ms) of the final performance feedback text presented during the single task practice sessions (practice1/practice2)
/ ssProcessingTaskImmediateFeedbackDuration = 3000 //sets the duration (in ms) of the intermittend feedback presented during the processing Task Training
/ ssDualTaskFeedbackDuration = 3000 //sets the duration (in ms) of the performance feedback text presented for the dual task training performance (practice3)
//Procedure Parameters
/ ssStartLevel = 3 //sets the start level for the SSPAN test, Note: should not be changed unless the necessary stimuli are provided
/ ssPracticeMinAcc = 0.7 //defines the lowest proportion correct that needs to be achieved during practice1&2 to move on to the next phase
/ ssLevelDecrease = 0.6 //performance under 60% correct results in decreasing the level for the next round
/ ssLevelIncrease = 1 //performance at 100% results in increasing the level for the next round
//Debug Stimuli: should be set to 0 for the actual test (if set to 1 the correct Matrix positions show up on the recall screen)
/ ssDebugmode = 0
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*Adaptive Composite Complex Span (ACCES): HELPER SCRIPT*
Subtest: Symmetry Span Test, Normative Data
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Script Author: Katja Borchert, Ph.D. (katjab@millisecond.com) for Millisecond Software, LLC
Date: 05-29-2019
last updated: 11-02-2023 by K. Borchert (katjab@millisecond.com) for Millisecond Software, LLC
Script Copyright © 11-02-2023 Millisecond Software
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BACKGROUND INFO
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This script provides the normative statistics used to calculate z-scores and percentiles for the
Symmetry Span Subtest of the ACCES script.
Reference:
Gonthier, C., Thomassin, N., & Roulin, J.-L. (2016). The Composite Complex Span :
French validation of a short working memory task. Behavior Research Methods, 48(1), 233-242.
doi:10.?3758/?s13428-015-0566-3
Gonthier C, Aubry A, Bourdin B. (2018). Measuring working memory capacity in children using adaptive tasks:
Example validation of an adaptive complex span. Behav Res Methods. Jun;50(3):910-921.
doi: 10.3758/s13428-017-0916-4. PMID: 28643158.
Note: this script does not run on its own. It is included in script "ACCES_SSPAN.iqjs"
