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*TIME WALL ESTIMATION TASK*
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Script Author: Katja Borchert, Ph.D. (katjab@millisecond.com) for Millisecond Software, LLC
Date: 05-07-2015
last updated: 10-20-2023 by K. Borchert (katjab@millisecond.com) for Millisecond Software, LLC
Script Copyright © 10-20-2023 Millisecond Software
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BACKGROUND INFO
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This script implements a Time Wall Task; an assessment of time estimation.
The implemented procedure is based on:
UNIFIED TRI-SERVICE COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT BATTERY (UTC-PAB) I. DESIGN AND SPECIFICATION OF THE BATTERY.
ENGLUND, C.E., REEVES. D.L., SHINGLEDECKER, C.A., THORNE, D.R., WILSON, K.P., & HEGGE. F.W. (1987).
REPORT NO. 87-10, NAVAL HEALTH RESEARCH CENTER, P 0 BOX 85122, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA 92138
NAVAL MEDICAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMAND, BETHESDA, MARYLAND (p.46)
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TASK DESCRIPTION
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Participants watch a disk falling from the top of the screen. On its way to the bottom (default: 10s)
it passes behind a wall with a disk-sized hole in it.
Once the disk is completely behind the wall (default: 6s), participants are asked to estimate via
pressing the Spacebar how long it would take the disk to completely cover the hole
(default: 8s, measured from start of trial).
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DURATION
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the default set-up of the script takes appr. 1.5 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: 'timewallestimation_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.
(parameter) totalfallduration: the time (in ms) it takes for the disk to fall from the top (starting off canvas) to the bottom
(ending off canvas)
response: the participant's response (57 = pressed Spacebar within valid response window)
validResponse: 1 = a valid response within the response window was given
0 = no valid response within the response window was given
timeHole: the time (in ms) it takes for disk to fully cover the hole (from start of falling)
=> "correct" response
estimatedTime: stores the estimated time (in ms) disk would fully cover the wall hole
(measured from trial start until participant responds)
earlyResponses: sums up the early responses (=> pressing Spacebar before disk is fully behind wall) per trial
Note: early responses don't interrupt the trial
(2) Summary data file: 'timewallestimation_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)
countResponses: counts all valid responses
nrTimeouts: counts number of time-outs (= number of invalid responses)
timeHole: the time (in ms) it should take trial.diskfalling theoretically to move the disk the distance from first time behind the wall
to cover the wall hole completely.
meanEstimationTime: mean estimation time of judging how long it takes the disk to fill the wall hole
(measured from time that disk is completely covered by wall)
constantError: estimation error as measured by difference (mean_estimationtime - time_hole)
propError: proportional error of estimated time to actual time
variableError: standard deviation time of judging how long it takes the disk to fill the wall hole
(measured from time that disk is completely covered by wall)
cvEstimationTime: coefficient of variation (Englund et al: 100* std/mean)
sumEarlyResponses: sums up the number of early responses across experiment
(parameter) circleradius: sets the radius of the disk in canvas height % (default: 5%)
(parameter) totalfallduration: sets the time (in ms) needed for the disk to fall from the top (not seen yet) to the bottom (not seen anymore) (default: 10000ms)
(parameter) nr_steps_destinationwall: sets the canvas % steps the disk needs to be fully covered by wall (default: 66)
(parameter) nr_steps_destinationhole: sets the canvas % steps the disk needs to fully cover the wall hole (default: 88)
speed: calculates the speed in ms/% canvas of the falling disk based on totalfallduration and the start and end y-coordinates of the falling disk
timeHole: calculates the time (in ms) it takes for disk to fully cover the hole
timeWall: calculates the time (in ms) it takes for disk to be fully covered by wall
startY: calculates the starting y coordinate of the falling disk based on circleradius (start: disk is not yet seen)
endY: calculates the ending y coordinate of the falling disk based on circleradius (end: disk is not seen anymore)
walltopY: calculates the y-coordinate of the top of the wall based on (parameter) circleradius and (parameter) nr_steps_destinationwall
wallY: calculates the y-coordinate of the wall when it first covers the disk completey based on (parameter) circleradius and (parameter) nr_steps_destinationwall
holeY: calculates the y-coordinate of the hole based on (parameter) circleradius and (parameter) nr_steps_destinationhole
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EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP
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By default this script runs 10 estimation tasks (editable parameter) or is over after 300s (editable parameter)
whichever comes first. At the default speed the disk is completely covered by the wall by 6s, covers the wall hole
by 8s and drops off the canvas at 10s.
Once the disk is completely covered by the wall, the script waits for a response from the participant
(early responses are counted but ignored otherwise).
If participant presses the Spacebar within 30s (editable parameter) after the disk is completely covered by the wall,
the response is counted as valid and the wall hole is filled with the color of the falling disk
(visual feedback of a valid response).
A new estimation task (if applicable) is started after 500ms (editable parameter).
If participant does not press the Spacebar within 30s, a beep is played (auditory feedback of invalid response)
and a new task starts after 1s (editable parameter).
SCREEN SET-UP
The stimuli in this task are all proportionally sized to the active screen canvas
(this script uses a width:height = 4:3 canvas by default)
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INSTRUCTIONS
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adapted from Englund et al (1987) - can be edited under section EDITABLE INSTRUCTIONS
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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:
/responseKey: the response key (" " -> spacebar)
/nrEstimations: number of estimation cycles (default: 10)
/maxTime: the total time (in ms) the test should maximally take (default: 300000ms)
!!!Note: the script stops either after parameters.nr_estimations (10) or parameters.maxtime; whichever comes first
/maxTrialDuration: maximum trial duration for trial.fallingdisk (default: 30000ms)
/beepPause: time-out pause after a beep trial (= participant took longer than parameters.max_trialduration to respond) before the next estimation sequence is started (default: 1000ms)
/iti: the intertrial pause (in ms) after each valid time estimation cycle (default: 500ms)
/circleRadius: sets the radius of the disk in canvas height % (default: 5%)
/totalfallDuration: sets the time (in ms) needed for the disk to fall from the top (not seen yet) to the bottom (not seen anymore) (default: 10000ms)
/nrStepsDestinationwall: sets the steps (1 step = 1% of the canvas height) the disk needs to take from the start point to the point where it's first fully covered by wall (default: 66)
/nrStepsDestinationhole: sets the steps (1 step = 1% of the canvas height) the disk needs to fall from the start point to the point where it fully covers the wall hole (default: 88)
