Script Author: Katja Borchert, Ph.D. (katjab@millisecond.com), Millisecond
Created: September 27, 2017
Last Modified: March 27, 2026 by K. Borchert (katjab@millisecond.com), Millisecond
Script Copyright © Millisecond Software, LLC
This script implements an emotion dotprobe procedure to measure attentional bias towards emotion words from different categories.
The implemented procedure is based on Sutton & Altarriba (2011).
Tina M. Sutton & Jeanette Altarriba (2011). The automatic activation and perception of emotion in word processing: Evidence from a modified dot probe paradigm. Journal of Cognitive Psychology, 23:6, 736-747, DOI: 10.1080/20445911.2011.554392
2 minutes
Participants are presented word pairs consisting of one emotion word and one control word flashed onto the screen to the left (top) or right (bottom) of a center fixation cross for a short duration. The word pairs are immediately followed by the letter 'R' or 'P'(= the probe). The probe is presented either in the location of the emotion word or in the location of the control word. Participants are asked to press one key (R) when the probe is an R and another key (P) if the probe is a P.
emotion and control words for the test blocks are taken from Sutton & Altarriba (2011).
Negative words were paired with words from category "sports equipment" in a pseudo-random way,
while trying to match the wordlength of each pair.
Positive words were paired with words from category "animals" in a pseudo-random way, while trying to match the
wordlength of each pair.
Practice words were added by Millisecond
(negative words paired with fruits, positive words paired with furniture).
All words can be changed under section Editable Stimuli.
Words are presented white on a black background with font Arial.
To change sizing in screen locations, check section Editable Parameters.
Sutton & Altarriba (2011, p. 741):
"The more central edge of each word appeared at 1.5degree and the distal edge at a maximum of 5degree of visual angle from
fixation." Default stimulus sizing in this script is coded proportional to canvas height.
See section Defaults for information on how to run absolutely sized stimuli.
provided by Millisecond - can be edited under section Editable Instructions
File Name: emotiondotprobe_summary*.iqdat
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| inquisit.version | Inquisit version number |
| computer.platform | Device platform: win | mac |ios | android |
| computer.touch | 0 = device has no touchscreen capabilities; 1 = device has touchscreen capabilities |
| computer.hasKeyboard | 0 = no external keyboard detected; 1 = external keyboard detected |
| 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 |
Task Parameters |
|
| horizontalPresentation | True (1) = the words will be presented left and right next to the fixation cross (default) false (0) = the words will be presented on top and bottom of the fixation cross => vertical presentation |
| conditionOrder | The order in which the emotion blocks are run "negative -> positive" (odd groupnumbers); "positive -> negative" (odd groupnumbers) |
Summary Variables |
|
| propCorrectNegEWCongruent | Proportion correct responses for negative words when the probe was presented in Position |
| propCorrectNegEWIncongruent | Proportion correct responses for negative words when the probe was presented in CTRL Position |
| propCorrectPosEWCongruent | Proportion correct responses for positive words when the probe was presented in Position |
| propCorrectPosEWIncongruent | Proportion correct responses for positive words when the probe was presented in CTRL Position |
| meanRTNegEWCongruent | Mean latency (in ms) of correct responses for negative words when the probe was presented in Position |
| meanRTNegEWIncongruent | Mean latency (in ms) of correct responses for negative words when the probe was presented in CTRL Position |
| abNegative | AB = Attentional Bias Measure positive value = (Attentional) Focus towards Negative Words negative value = Avoidance of Negative Words |
| meanRTPosEWCongruent | Mean latency (in ms) of correct responses for positive words when the probe was presented in Position |
| meanRTPosEWIncongruent | Mean latency (in ms) of correct responses for positive words when the probe was presented in CTRL Position |
| abPositive | AB = Attentional Bias Measure positive value = Focus (Attentional Bias) towards Positive Words negative value = Avoidance of Positive Words |
File Name: emotiondotprobe_raw*.iqdat
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| build | Inquisit version number |
| computer.platform | Device platform: win | mac |ios | android |
| computer.touch | 0 = device has no touchscreen capabilities; 1 = device has touchscreen capabilities |
| computer.hasKeyboard | 0 = no external keyboard detected; 1 = external keyboard detected |
| date | Date the session was run |
| time | Time the session was run |
| subject | Participant ID |
| group | Group number |
| session | Session number |
| blockcode | The name the current block (built-in Inquisit variable) |
| blocknum | The number of the current block (built-in Inquisit variable) |
| trialcode | The name of the currently recorded trial (built-in Inquisit variable) |
| trialnum | The number of the currently recorded trial (built-in Inquisit variable) trialnum is a built-in Inquisit variable; it counts all trials run even those that do not store data to the data file. |
Parameter Values |
|
| horizontalPresentation | True (1) = the words will be presented left and right next to the fixation cross (default) false (0) = the words will be presented on top and bottom of the fixation cross => vertical presentation |
| conditionOrder | The order in which the emotion blocks are run "negative -> positive" (odd groupnumbers); "positive -> negative" (odd groupnumbers) |
| valence | "negative" vs. "positive" |
| ctrl | Stores the current control word (CTRL) |
| ctrlX | The assigned x-coordinate for control words |
| ctrlY | The assigned y-coordinate for control words |
| ew | Stores the current emotion word (EW) |
| ewLocation | 1 = left (top); 2 = right (bottom) |
| ewX | The assigned x-coordinate for EW words |
| ewY | The assigned y-coordinate for EW words |
| probe | Stores the current probe letter |
| probeLocation | 1 = left (top); 2 = right (bottom) |
| probeX | The assigned x-coordinate for the probe letter |
| probeY | The assigned y-coordinate for the probe letter |
| congruence | 1 = probe sits in EW position; 0 = probe sits in CTRL position |
| response | The participant's response (scancode of response button) 19 = R 25 = P |
| responseText | Label of response key |
| correct | Accuracy of response: 1 = correct response; 0 = otherwise |
| latency | The response latency (in ms); measured from: onset of probe |
The procedure can be adjusted by setting the following parameters.
| Name | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
Design |
||
| runMask | True (1) = the script will mask ("XXXXX") the emotion and control words false (0) = the script will not mask the emotion and control words | false |
| horizontalPresentation | True (1) = the words will be presented left and right next to the fixation cross false (0) = the words will be presented on top and bottom of the fixation cross => vertical presentation | true |
Sizing Parameters |
||
| fixationSize | The proportional size of the fixation cross to canvas height | 8% |
| wordSize | The proportional size of the words to canvas height | 8% |
| leftX | The left coordinate of the words (if horizontal presentation) | 25% |
| rightX | The right coordinate of the words (if horizontal presentation) | 75% |
| topY | The top coordinate of the words (if vertical presentation) | 25% |
| bottomY | The bottom coordinate of the words (if vertical presentation) | 75% |
Timing Parameters |
||
| fixationDuration | The duration (in ms) of the fixation cross at the start of trial | 500 |
| wordPresentationDuration | The duration (in ms) of the word presentations | 180 |
| maskDuration | The duration (in ms) of the mask (if runMask = true) Sutton & Altarriba (2011, Experiment1): word presentation for 30ms and mask for 150ms | 0 |
| iti | The intertrial interval (in ms) | 0 |
| readyDuration | Duration (in ms) of the 'get ready' trial | 5000 |
| reminderOnset | Onset (in ms) of reminder after probe has appeared on screen | 2000 |
Response Keys |
||
| probe1ResponseKey | The response key for probe 1 | "R" |
| probe1 | Probe 1 | "R" |
| probe2ResponseKey | The response key for probe 2 | "P" |
| probe2 | Probe 2 | "P" |