Iowa Gambling Task for Children

script based on Millisecond's IowaGamblingTask.iqjs
helper script for childIGT.iqjs

Last Modified: January 30, 2024 by K. Borchert (katjab@millisecond.com), Millisecond

Script Copyright © Millisecond Software, LLC

Background

This sample implements a child friendly Iowa Gambling Task. The task assesses risk learning by utilizing rewards and punishment in an uncertain simulated real-life decision making context.

The implemented procedure is based on:

Garon, N., C. Moore, and D.A.Waschbusch, Decision making in children with ADHD only,ADHD-anxious/depressed, and control children using a child version of the IowaGambling Task. J AttenDisord, 2006. 9(4): p. 607-19.

This script runs with panda bears and snow leopards instead of bears and tigers (Garon et al, 2006)

References

Garon, N., C. Moore, and D.A.Waschbusch, Decision making in children with ADHD only,ADHD-anxious/depressed, and control children using a child version of the IowaGambling Task. J AttenDisord, 2006. 9(4): p. 607-19.

Duration

5 minutes

Description

Participants are asked to select cards from one of 4 decks with their mouse. The cards are "turned over" and reveal at least 1-2 panda bears and occasionally snow leopard(s). The panda bears bring good fortune: each panda means 1 golden coin for the participant. The snow leopards, however, take away good fortune: each snow leopard takes away 1 golden coin. The four different decks can be categorized as advantageous (deck3/4: overall more pandas than snow leopards are uncovered) or disadvantageous (deck1/2: overall more snow leopards than pandas).

Procedure

The default set-up runs
- 1 Block of 40 IGT trials
- Awareness Task (optional)
- 1 Block of 40 IGT trials (= 80 IGT trials total)
- Awareness Task (optional)

To change the the default set-up (e.g. number of trials, remove awareness task) go to section EXPERIMENT and follow further instructions

IGT Trials:
- List elements control the selection of the specific cards for each deck (see section LISTS for more info).
By default, the lists select specific outcomes (reward-loss contingencies) randomly without replacement across 10 trials in this script.
To hard-code a specific reward-loss continency sequence for each deck, go to section LISTS and follow instructions.
Deck1: across 10 turns => 2 pandas every time but 2 x 13 snow leopards (-> net win: -6)
Deck2: across 10 turns => 2 pandas every time but 2 x 6 snow leopards and 2 x 7 snow leopards (->net win: -6)
Deck3: across 10 turns => 1 panda every time but 4 x 1 snow leopard (-> net win: +6)
Deck4: across 10 turns => 1 panda every time but 2 x 2 snow leopards (-> net win: +6)

the actual screen position of deck1-deck4 is determined randomly

!!!Awareness Task:
is optional (set under Editable Values -> parameters.runawarenesstest);
The Awareness Task is coded in Helper Script "childIGT_AwarenessTask.iqjs".
The optional Awareness Task asks participants to say how much they like each of the four decks.

Stimuli

All stimuli are provided by Millisecond and are NOT original to Garon et al (2006).
The stimuli can be exchanged for custom ones under Editable Stimuli.

Instructions

All instructions are provided by Millisecond and are NOT original to Garon et al (2006).
The instructions are provided in form of html pages (see section Editable instructions) and can be
edited directly in the html files.

Summary Data

File Name: childigt_summary*.iqdat

Data Fields

Raw Data

File Name: childigt_raw*.iqdat

Data Fields

Parameters

The procedure can be adjusted by setting the following parameters.