Millisecond Forums

randomising <expt> scripts using <batch> element, inquisit web

https://forums.millisecond.com/Topic4936.aspx

By Alexander - 9/13/2010



I have a
question regarding inquisit web and the combining of scripts, and I hope someone
can help me out with this.


 


I have been
programming my scripts separately for the different parts of my experiment and
now I have 4 <expt> scripts: 1, 2A, 2B, 3. I want half of the participants
to go through scripts 1, 2A and 3 and the other half to go through scripts 1,
2B and 3. However, I don’t know how to program this...


 


I have been
reading about the <batch> element, but it looks to me that I can only
place scripts there which are then presented sequentially. In the <expt>
scripts 2 A and 2 B there is a randomization of stimuli presentation and I don’t
know how to combine scripts 2A and 2B into 1 <expt> script (which would
also solve the problem I think).


 


I want to keep
things as simple as possible (I am a beginner at inquisit programming). It
looks like I can make 2 <batch> elements, but I think this is problematic
in my case, because (due to license fees) I can only run 1 <batch> file
on the web...


 


How can I have
(roughly) half of the participants work through <expt> scripts 1, 2A and
3 and the other half through 1, 2B and 3?


 


Thanks in
advance for your time and attention in this matter.


 


Regards,


 


Alexander

By Dave - 9/13/2010

The <batch> element is able to assign your subjects to different orders via the /subjects attribute. In your case, you should set things up like this:


<batch GroupA>
/ subjects = (1 of 2)
/ file = "1.exp"
/ file = "2A.exp"
/ file = "3.exp"
</batch>

<batch GroupB>
/ subjects = (2 of 2)
/ file = "1.exp"
/ file = "2B.exp"
/ file = "3.exp"
</batch>


Regards,


~Dave

By Alexander - 9/14/2010

Dave,



Thanks for your reply!


I have read about the subjects attribute, but that leaves me with 2 <batch> elements...I am a student, and if I understood everything correctly, I can only have 1 <batch> file, because that would mean only 1 license/ fewer costs (I will have participants do the experiment over the web). I am not 100% sure about my reasoning, I do know I was told to "put everything in 1 file" when I asked about the 2 <batch> element option....


I have checked out the help option in inquisit and it seems that I can/t put the 2 <batch> elements like you suggested into 1 general <batch> or something like that (so I am left with 1 file). Am I overlooking/misunderstanding anything? Is there a way around the 2 <batch> elements, for instance by putting them into 1 "general batch" ?



Thanks again for your reply.



Regards,



Alexander

By Dave - 9/14/2010

The two <batch> elements I posted go into *one single* .exp file, let's call it 'mybatch.exp'. This is the file you register as your active script in step 1 of the Web Script Wizard. In step 2 you upload the "actual" scripts containing your different tasks (1.exp, 2A.exp, 2B.exp, 3.exp).


Regards,


~Dave

By Alexander - 9/14/2010

Dave,



You have been very, very helpful. Thank you!


As I said, I am a beginner at programming and I have even less knowledge about how inquisit exactly works using the web edition. I am gathering information bit by bit, and I now know I can put everything into "mybatch.exp" ([;)]) and all is well!


Thanks.



Regards,


Alexander