Script Author: David Nitz (dave@millisecond.com), Millisecond.
Last Modified: January 10, 2025 by K. Borchert (katjab@millisecond.com), Millisecond
Script Copyright © Millisecond Software, LLC
This script implements the 'Columbia Card Task' (CCT) as described in:
Figner, B., Mackinlay, R.J., Wilkening, F., & Weber, E.U. (2009). Affective and deliberative processes in risky choice: Age differences in risk taking in the Columbia Card Task. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 35, 709–730.
20 minutes
Participants are presented with 32 cards, all face down. Some of these cards are 'gain cards' (=make money when turned over), some of them are loss cards (= lose money when turned over). Participant click on the cards they want to turn over based on the following round info: - number of hidden loss cards - amount of money they can make from each gain card - amount of money that they will lose if a loss card is encountered. ( once a loss card is turned over, the round is over)
In the 'hot - delayed feedback' version of the Columbia Card Task, participants get to see the result of their choices ONLY after they indicated all the cards they want to turn over.
Note that the experimental trials rely on rigged feedback, i.e. the hidden loss card(s) will always be the last possible card(s) that may be turned over by the participant. For example, in a trial with 2 loss cards, only the 31st card turned over by the subject will be a loss card independent of which cards the subject actually decides to pick.
The CCT relies on a full factorial within-subject design. Three game parameters / factors
are varied between trials:
(a) Number of hidden loss cards (1, 2, or 3 loss cards)
(b) Gain amount per gain card (10, 20, or 30 points)
(c) Loss amount (250, 500, or 750 points)
There are a total of 3 x 3 x 3 = 27 unique combinations. These are encoded in the list elements in section EDITABLE LISTS.
Each of the 3 x 3 x 3 = 27 combinations of factor levels is presented twice, resulting in 54
experimental trials. The presentation of experimental trials is divided into two blocks of 27
trials, i.e. all 27 unique trials are run once in random order and then a second time in a
different random order.
Note that the experimental trials rely on rigged feedback, i.e. the hidden loss card(s) will
always be the last possible card(s) that may be turned over by the participant. For example,
in a trial with 2 loss cards, only the 31st card turned over by the subject will be a loss card
independent of which cards the subject actually decides to pick.
To maintain the impression that respondents are playing a real game of chance, 9 additional
trials are randomly interspersed among the 54 rigged experimental trials. All of this is
handled by list 'trialtype' (see section EDITABLE LISTS), where the value '0' designates a filler trial
(9 times) and the value '1' designates an experimental trial (54 times). Consequently, there will be a total of
63 game rounds (trials) to play. Note that filler trials should be excluded from data analysis.
Check section Editable Lists for:
(a) Number of hidden loss cards (1, 2, or 3 loss cards)
(b) Gain amount per gain card (10, 20, or 30 points)
(c) Loss amount (250, 500, or 750 points)
provided by Millisecond
see section Editable Instructions
File Name: cct_cold_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 |
| totalScore | Points won / lost across the whole task |
File Name: cct_cold_raw*.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 |
| response | The participant's response in the recorded trial trial.pickcard: the selected card |
| latency | The response latency (in ms), measured from onset of trial |
| gameRound | The current round number |
| trialType | The type of trial, where '1' designates an experimental trial and '0' indicates a filler trial |
| lossCards | The number of loss cards in a given round |
| gainAmount | The gain amount per gain card in a given round |
| lossAmount | The loss amount in a given round |
| nCards | The number of cards turned over by the subject in a given round |
| nSafeCards | The number of cards safe to turn over in a given round |
| score | Points won / lost in a given round |
| totalScore | Points won / lost across the whole task |