Millisecond Forums

#1: I'm not sure how to reproduce the "noticeable pause between the main task trials", as those do not seem to be included in the code you posted. (Neither are various other pieces of code relevant to the sort trials, such as the <values> they rely on, i.e., it isn't possible for me to just plug the code in to something else and be sure that I'm working with an accurate representation of what your script does.)

#2: Under Inquisit 5, it should not be necessary to jump through any of these hoops to begin with. The Inquisit 5 <list> element provides a median property which directly returns the median of the values contained in the <list>: https://www.millisecond.com/support/docs/v5/html/language/properties/median.htm

<values>
/ one = 0
/ two = 0
/ three = 0
/ four = 0
/ five = 0
/ mymedian = 0
</values>

<list mylist>
/ items = (values.one, values.two, values.three, values.four, values.five)
</list>

<list randomintegers>
/ poolsize = 1000
/ replace = true
/ selectionrate = always
</list>

<trial mytrial>
/ ontrialbegin = [values.one = list.randomintegers.nextindex;
    values.two = list.randomintegers.nextindex;
    values.three = list.randomintegers.nextindex;
    values.four = list.randomintegers.nextindex;
    values.five = list.randomintegers.nextindex;
    values.mymedian = list.mylist.median;
]
/ stimulusframes = [1=mytext]
/ validresponse = (57)
</trial>

<text mytext>
/ items = ("The median of the values
<%values.one%>, <%values.two%>, <%values.three%>, <%values.four%> and <%values.five%>
is equal to
<%values.mymedian%>.")
/ size = (75%, 50%)
</text>

<block myblock>
/ trials = [1-5 = mytrial]
</block>

Hope this helps.

Oh wow, thanks for the fast response!

OK, the median function should solve this issue quite easily, thanks for that. Will try it out ASAP! Sorry I didn't check this first - I simply haven't had the time to really get into the new features in Inquisit 5.

I didn't want to post the whole experiment's code because I thought it might be a bit too messy, but I can understand that the fragments weren't much help either. In case the slowdown is of further interest to you, find attached all the relevant code. It should run if you put placeholder files in for the pictures. To briefly explain the task (as the instructions are in German), you start with the "maze" trial, which displays a cross. You click on the cross and then you're supposed to click on the cheese (kaesePic) as fast as possible. The response window for this task is adaptive such that if you respond correctly, your RT is added to the list from which the median is taken. If you click the wrong picture (Hoehlepic), your RT is not added to the list.


<trial maze>
/inputdevice = mouse
/stimulusframes = [1=kreuz, klicken]
/validresponse = (kreuz)
/recorddata = false
/branch = [noreplace(trial.mauskaeselinks,trial.mauskaeserechts,trial.mauskaeselinks,trial.mauskaeserechts,trial.mauskaeselinks,trial.mauskaeserechts) ]
</trial>

<trial mauskaeselinks>
/ ontrialbegin = [values.pot = getitem(counter.sortedlist,6) + values.mercy]
/ontrialbegin = [values.horizontalposition = 10]
/inputdevice = mouse
/stimulusframes = [1=mausPic, kaesePic, hoehlePic, himmelPic]
/validresponse = (kaesePic, hoehlePic)
/ correctresponse = (kaesePic)
/ timeout = 2000
/ ontrialend = [if (trial.mauskaeselinks.response == "kaesePic") {values.wascorrect = "RICHTIG GEKLICKT!!!"; text.correctfeedback.textcolor = green} else {values.wascorrect = "FALSCH GEKLICKT!!!"; text.correctfeedback.textcolor = crimson}]
/ ontrialend = [if (trial.mauskaeselinks.latency <= getitem(counter.sortedlist,6) + values.mercy && trial.mauskaeselinks.latency != 0) {values.fastenough = "SCHNELL GENUG!!!"; text.fastenough.textcolor = green; values.current = values.current +1} else {values.fastenough = "ZU LANGSAM!!!"; text.fastenough.textcolor = crimson}]
/ ontrialend = [values.ntrials=values.ntrials+1; values.ncorrect=values.ncorrect+trial.mauskaeselinks.correct]
/ ontrialend = [clear(counter.unsortedlist); values.i = 0; values.j = 0]
 / ontrialend = [if (trial.mauskaeselinks.response == "kaesePic") {values.lat11 = values.lat10; values.lat10 = values.lat9; values.lat9= values.lat8; values.lat8= values.lat7; values.lat7= values.lat6; values.lat6= values.lat5; values.lat5= values.lat4; values.lat4= values.lat3; values.lat3= values.lat2; values.lat2= values.lat1; values.lat1 = trial.mauskaeselinks.latency}]
 / ontrialend = [if (trial.mauskaeselinks.response == "0") {values.lat11 = values.lat10; values.lat10 = values.lat9; values.lat9= values.lat8; values.lat8= values.lat7; values.lat7= values.lat6; values.lat6= values.lat5; values.lat5= values.lat4; values.lat4= values.lat3; values.lat3= values.lat2; values.lat2= values.lat1; values.lat1 = 2000}]
 / ontrialend = [insert(counter.unsortedlist, values.lat1, 1); insert(counter.unsortedlist, values.lat2, 2); insert(counter.unsortedlist, values.lat3, 3); insert(counter.unsortedlist, values.lat4, 4); insert(counter.unsortedlist, values.lat5, 5); insert(counter.unsortedlist, values.lat6, 6); insert(counter.unsortedlist, values.lat7, 7); insert(counter.unsortedlist, values.lat8, 8); insert(counter.unsortedlist, values.lat9, 9);insert(counter.unsortedlist, values.lat10, 10); insert(counter.unsortedlist, values.lat11, 11)]
 / ontrialend = [setitem(counter.sortedlist, 0, 1); setitem(counter.sortedlist,0, 2); setitem(counter.sortedlist, 0, 3); setitem(counter.sortedlist, 0, 4); setitem(counter.sortedlist, 0, 5); setitem(counter.sortedlist, 0, 6); setitem(counter.sortedlist, 0, 7); setitem(counter.sortedlist, 0, 8); setitem(counter.sortedlist, 0, 9);setitem(counter.sortedlist, 0, 10); setitem(counter.sortedlist, 0, 11)]
 / branch = [trial.sort1]
</trial>


<trial mauskaeserechts>
/ ontrialbegin = [values.pot = getitem(counter.sortedlist,6) + values.mercy]
/ontrialbegin = [values.horizontalposition = 90]
/inputdevice = mouse
/stimulusframes = [1=mausPic, kaesePic, hoehlePic, himmelPic]
/validresponse = (kaesePic, hoehlePic)
/ correctresponse = (kaesePic)
/ timeout = 2000
/ ontrialend = [if (trial.mauskaeserechts.response == "kaesePic") {values.wascorrect = "RICHTIG GEKLICKT!!!"; text.correctfeedback.textcolor = green} else {values.wascorrect = "FALSCH GEKLICKT!!!"; text.correctfeedback.textcolor = crimson}]
/ ontrialend = [if (trial.mauskaeserechts.latency <= getitem(counter.sortedlist,6) + values.mercy && trial.mauskaeserechts.latency != 0) {values.fastenough = "SCHNELL GENUG!!!"; text.fastenough.textcolor = green; values.current = values.current +1} else {values.fastenough = "ZU LANGSAM!!!"; text.fastenough.textcolor = crimson}]
/ ontrialend = [values.ntrials=values.ntrials+1; values.ncorrect=values.ncorrect+trial.mauskaeserechts.correct]
/ ontrialend = [clear(counter.unsortedlist); values.i = 0; values.j = 0]
/ ontrialend = [if (trial.mauskaeserechts.response == "kaesePic") {values.lat11 = values.lat10; values.lat10 = values.lat9; values.lat9= values.lat8; values.lat8= values.lat7; values.lat7= values.lat6; values.lat6= values.lat5; values.lat5= values.lat4; values.lat4= values.lat3; values.lat3= values.lat2; values.lat2= values.lat1; values.lat1 = trial.mauskaeserechts.latency}]
/ ontrialend = [if (trial.mauskaeserechts.response == "0") {values.lat11 = values.lat10; values.lat10 = values.lat9; values.lat9= values.lat8; values.lat8= values.lat7; values.lat7= values.lat6; values.lat6= values.lat5; values.lat5= values.lat4; values.lat4= values.lat3; values.lat3= values.lat2; values.lat2= values.lat1; values.lat1 = 2000}]
/ ontrialend = [insert(counter.unsortedlist, values.lat1, 1); insert(counter.unsortedlist, values.lat2, 2); insert(counter.unsortedlist, values.lat3, 3); insert(counter.unsortedlist, values.lat4, 4); insert(counter.unsortedlist, values.lat5, 5); insert(counter.unsortedlist, values.lat6, 6); insert(counter.unsortedlist, values.lat7, 7); insert(counter.unsortedlist, values.lat8, 8); insert(counter.unsortedlist, values.lat9, 9);insert(counter.unsortedlist, values.lat10, 10); insert(counter.unsortedlist, values.lat11, 11)]
/ ontrialend = [setitem(counter.sortedlist, 0, 1); setitem(counter.sortedlist,0, 2); setitem(counter.sortedlist, 0, 3); setitem(counter.sortedlist, 0, 4); setitem(counter.sortedlist, 0, 5); setitem(counter.sortedlist, 0, 6); setitem(counter.sortedlist, 0, 7); setitem(counter.sortedlist, 0, 8); setitem(counter.sortedlist, 0, 9);setitem(counter.sortedlist, 0, 10); setitem(counter.sortedlist, 0, 11)]
/ branch = [trial.sort1]
</trial>


<trial feedback>
/ inputdevice = mouse
/ stimulusframes = [1 = fastenough, correctfeedback]
/ validresponse = (noresponse)
/ timeout = 750
/ recorddata = false
</trial>


<text kreuz>
/items = ("+")
/position = (50,50)
/fontstyle = ("Arial", 20%)
</text>

<text klicken>
/items = ("Klicken Sie auf das Kreuz, um fortzufahren.")
/position = (50,65)
/fontstyle = ("Arial", 4%)

</text>

<text fastenough>
/ fontstyle = ("Arial", 5%)
/ txcolor = crimson
/ position = (50, 40)
/ items = ("<%values.fastenough%>")
</text>

<text correctfeedback>
/ fontstyle = ("Arial", 3%)
/ position = (50, 60)
/ txcolor = aquamarine
/ items = ("<%values.wascorrect%>")
</text>


<picture mausPic>
/items = ("Maus.jpg")
/position = (50,50)
/size = (30%, 30%)
</picture>

<picture kaesePic>
/items = ("Kase.jpg")
/position = (values.horizontalposition,50)
/size = (30%, 30%)
</picture>

<picture hoehlePic>
/items = ("Hohle.jpg")
/position = (100-values.horizontalposition,50)
/size = (30%, 30%)
</picture>

<picture himmelPic>
/items = ("Himmel2.jpg")
/position = (50,15)
/size = (30%, 30%)
</picture>


<values>
/ mercy = 200
/ pot = 0
/ horizontalposition = 0
/counter = 0
/ncorrect = 0
/ntrials = 0
/current = 0
/wascorrect = "WERT NICHT GESETZT"
/fastenough = "WERT NICHT GESETZT"

/rem1 = "AB HIER KOMMEN VARIABLEN FÜR DEN SORTIERALGORITHMUS"

 /j = 0
 /i = 0
 /k = 0
 /m = 0
 /fourier = 0
 /sortitem = 0
 /lat1 = 300
 /lat2 = 300
 /lat3 = 300
 /lat4 = 300
 /lat5 = 300
 /lat6 = 300
 /lat7 = 300
 /lat8 = 300
 /lat9 = 300
 /lat10 = 300
 /lat11 = 300
/endresult = "ERROR: RESULTS NOT CALCULATED"
</values>

<expressions>
/pctcorrect = (values.ncorrect / values.ntrials)*100
</expressions>


 <trial sort1>
 /ontrialbegin = [values.j = values.j + 1]
 /ontrialbegin = [if (values.j <= counter.unsortedlist.itemcount) values.sortitem = getitem(counter.unsortedlist, values.j)]
 /branch = [if (values.j <= counter.unsortedlist.itemcount) {values.i = 0; trial.sort2} else trial.feedback]
 /recorddata = false
 / pretrialpause = 0
 /trialduration = 0
 </trial>
 / stimulustimes = [0 = currentrial]



 <trial sort2>
 /ontrialbegin = [values.i = values.i + 1]
 /branch = [if (values.sortitem <= getitem(counter.sortedlist, values.i)) {values.k = 1; trial.sort3}]
 /branch = [if (values.i < counter.sortedlist.itemcount) trial.sort2]
 /branch = [if (getitem(counter.sortedlist, counter.sortedlist.itemcount) == 0) {setitem(counter.sortedlist, values.sortitem, counter.sortedlist.itemcount); trial.sort1}]
 / branch = [{values.m = 0; values.k = -1; trial.sort4}]
 /recorddata = false
 / pretrialpause = 0
 /trialduration = 0
 </trial>
 / stimulustimes = [0 = currentrial]


 <trial sort3>
 / ontrialbegin = [values.k = values.k + 1]
 / ontrialbegin = [if (values.k <= values.i-1) setitem(counter.sortedlist, getitem(counter.sortedlist, values.k), values.k - 1)]
 / branch = [if (values.k < (values.i-1)) trial.sort3]
 / branch = [if (values.k == (values.i-1)) {setitem(counter.sortedlist, values.sortitem, values.i-1); trial.sort1}]
 / branch = [if (values.k == values.i) {setitem(counter.sortedlist, values.sortitem, 1); trial.sort1}]
 / recorddata = false
 / pretrialpause = 0
 / trialduration = 0
 </trial>
 / stimulustimes = [0 = currentrial]


 <trial sort4>
 / ontrialbegin = [values.k = values.k + 1]
 / branch = [if (getitem(counter.sortedlist, counter.sortedlist.itemcount - values.k) != 0) {values.m = values.m+1; trial.sort4}]
 / branch = [values.k = -1; trial.sort5]
 / recorddata = false
 / pretrialpause = 0
 / trialduration = 0
 </trial>
 / stimulustimes = [0 = currentrial]

 <trial sort5>
 / ontrialbegin = [values.k = values.k + 1]
 / ontrialbegin = [values.fourier = counter.sortedlist.itemcount + values.k - values.m]
 / ontrialbegin = [setitem(counter.sortedlist, getitem(counter.sortedlist, (values.fourier+1)), (values.fourier))]
 / branch = [if (values.m == values.k + 1) {setitem(counter.sortedlist, values.sortitem, counter.sortedlist.itemcount); values.k = 0; trial.sort1}]
 / branch = [trial.sort5]
 / recorddata = false
 / pretrialpause = 0
 / trialduration = 0
 </trial>
 / stimulustimes = [0 = currentrial]


 <counter unsortedlist>
 / items = (values.lat1, values.lat2, values.lat3, values.lat4, values.lat5, values.lat6, values.lat7, values.lat8, values.lat9, values.lat10, values.lat11)
 / select = noreplace
 </counter>

 <counter sortedlist>
 / items = (values.lat1, values.lat2, values.lat3, values.lat4, values.lat5, values.lat6, values.lat7, values.lat8, values.lat9, values.lat10, values.lat11)
 / select = noreplace
 </counter>
 / items = (0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0)