Millisecond Forums

"block 1 is unassigned"

https://forums.millisecond.com/Topic9647.aspx

By Shona - 2/8/2013

Hello, 


I would like to run the first block of my experiment and then present instructions before participants proceed to the next phase of the experiment. 


I'm having trouble setting up my blocks so that this happens. Currently, I get the following message when I try to run the study: "block 1 is unassigned". 


I'm not sure why I'm getting this message as I'm pretty sure that block 1 *is* assigned. 


I'd be so grateful if someone would let me know what's wrong with my script. I've pasted it below. Thanks so much in advance!


Shona



***************************** Stimuli ********************************



Neutral


<item targetN> 


/1= "Neut1_7175.jpg"


/2= "Neut1_2440.jpg"


/3= "Neut1_2480.jpg"


/4= "Neut1_7060.jpg"


/5= "Neut1_7110.jpg"


/6= "Neut2_2206.JPG"


/7= "Neut2_7010.JPG"


/8= "Neut2_7224.jpg"


/9= "Neut2_7234.jpg"


/10= "Neut2_9360.jpg"


</item>



HighPleasure


<item targetHP>


/1= "HP1_4290.jpg"


/2= "HP1_4608.jpg"


/3= "HP1_8185.jpg"


/4= "HP1_8186.jpg"


/5= "HP1_8370.jpg"


/6= "HP2_5629.jpg"


/7= "HP2_4220.JPG"


/8= "HP2_4490.JPG"


/9= "HP2_5950.JPG"


/10= "HP2_8300.JPG"


</item>



HighThreat


<item targetHT>


/1= "HT1_6230.jpg"


/2= "HT1_6370.jpg"


/3= "HT1_6550.jpg"


/4= "HT1_9250.jpg"


/5= "HT1_1300.jpg"


/6= "HT2_1201.jpg"


/7= "HT2_1930.jpg"


/8= "HT2_8480.JPG"


/9= "HT2_1120.JPG"


/10= "HT2_3400.JPG"


</item>



Mildpleasure


<item targetMP>


/1= "MP1_2310.jpg"


/2= "MP1_5220.jpg"


/3= "MP1_1600.jpg"


/4= "MP1_2222.jpg"


/5= "MP1_5780.jpg"


/6= "MP2_2518.jpg"


/7= "MP2_2025.jpg"


/8= "MP2_2000.JPG"


/9= "MP2_1601.jpg"


/10= "MP2_1419.jpg"


</item>



Mildthreat


<item targetMT>


/1= "MT1_2750.jpg"


/2= "MT1_2276.jpg"


/3= "MT1_9265.jpg"


/4= "MT1_9000.jpg"


/5= "MT1_2590.jpg"


/6= "MT2_2399.jpg"


/7= "MT2_2491.jpg"


/8= "MT2_2695.jpg"


/9= "MT2_2753.JPG"


/10= "MT2_6010.JPG"


</item>






<text SCStextquestions>


/size = (45%, 45%)


/items = SCStextquestions


/position = (50%, 50%)


/halign = center


/select = noreplace


/selectionrate = always


</text>




<text RWAtextquestions>


/size = (45%, 45%)


/items = RWAtextquestions


/position = (50%, 50%)


/halign = center


/select = noreplace


/selectionrate = always


</text>




<item SCStextquestions>


/1= "Death penalty."


/2= "Multiculturalism."


/3= "Stiffer jail terms."


/4= "Patriotisim."


/5= "Voluntary euthanasia."


/6= "Nuclear power."


/7= "Working mothers."


/8= "Bible truths."


/9= "Gay rights."


/10= "Conservationalists."


/11= "Sabbath observance."


/12= "Royalty."


/13= "Test-tube babies."


/14= "Pre-marital virginity."


/15= "Asian immigration."


/16= "Decriminalised marijuana."


/17= "Church authority."


/18= "Defense spending."


/19= "Legalised abortion."


/20= "Caning young criminals."


/21= "Private schools."


/22="Condom vending machines."


/23= "Legalised prostitution."


/24= "Castrating sex offenders."


/25= "Women priests."


</item>



<item RWAtextquestions>


/1= "The established authorities generally turn out to be right about things, while the radicals and protestors are usually just “loud mouths” showing off their ignorance."


/2= "Women should have to promise to obey their husbands when they get married."


/3= "Our country desperately needs a mighty leader who will do what has to be done to destroy the radical new ways and sinfulness that are ruining us."


/4= "Gays and lesbians are just as healthy and moral as anybody else."


/5= "It is always better to trust the judgment of the proper authorities in government and religion than to listen to the noisy rabble-rousers in our society who are trying to create doubt in people’s minds."


/6= "Atheists and others who have rebelled against the established religions are no doubt every bit as good and virtuous as those who attend church regularly."


/7= "The only way our country can get through the crisis ahead is to get back to our traditional values, put some tough leaders in power, and silence the troublemakers spreading bad ideas."


/8= "There is absolutely nothing wrong with nudist camps."


/9= "Our country needs free thinkers who have the courage to defy traditional ways, even if this upsets many people."


/10= "Our country will be destroyed someday if we do not smash the perversions eating away at our moral fiber and traditional beliefs."


/11= "Everyone should have their own lifestyle, religious beliefs, and sexual preferences, even if it makes them different from everyone else."


/12= "The “old-fashioned ways” and the “old-fashioned values” still show the best way to live. "


/13= "You have to admire those who challenged the law and the majority’s view by protesting for women’s abortion rights, for animal rights, or to abolish school prayer."


/14= "What our country really needs is a strong, determined leader who will crush evil, and take us back to our true path."


/15= "Some of the best people in our country are those who are challenging our government, criticizing religion, and ignoring the “normal way things are supposed to be done.” "


/16= "God’s laws about abortion, pornography and marriage must be strictly followed before it is too late, and those who break them must be strongly punished."


/17= "There are many radical, immoral people in our country today, who are trying to ruin it for their own godless purposes, whom the authorities should put out of action."


/18= "A “woman’s place” should be wherever she wants to be. The days when women are submissive to their husbands and social conventions belong strictly in the past."


/19= "Our country will be great if we honor the ways of our forefathers, do what the authorities tell us to do, and get rid of the “rotten apples” who are ruining everything."


/20= "There is no “ONE right way” to live life; everybody has to create their own way."


/21= "Homosexuals and feminists should be praised for being brave enough to defy “traditional family values."


/22= "This country would work a lot better if certain groups of troublemakers would just shut up and accept their group’s traditional place in society."


</item>



<shape erasescreen>



/color= (255,255,255)


/size = (100%, 100%)



</shape>



************************** Experimental Stimuli ************************************



<picture targetN>


/ items = targetN


/ size = (80%, 80%)


/ position = (50%,50%)


/ selectionrate = trial


</picture>



<picture targetHP>


/ items = targetHP


/ size = (80%, 80%)


/ position = (50%,50%)


/ selectionrate = trial


</picture>



<picture targetHT>


/ items = targetHT


/ size = (80%, 80%)


/ position = (50%,50%)


/ selectionrate = trial


</picture>



<picture targetMP>


/ items = targetMP


/ size = (80%, 80%)


/ position = (50%,50%)


/ selectionrate = trial


</picture>



<picture targetMT>


/ items = targetMT


/ size = (80%, 80%)


/ position = (50%,50%)


/ selectionrate = trial


</picture>





*************************** Picture Trials *********************************



Neutral Trial 


<trial targetN>


/stimulusframes = [1=targetN; 200=erasescreen]


/response = timeout(200)


</trial>



High Positive Trial 


<trial targetHP>


/stimulusframes = [1=targetHP; 200=erasescreen]


/response = timeout(200)


</trial>



High Threat Trial


<trial targetHT>


/stimulusframes = [1=targetHT; 200=erasescreen]


/response = timeout(200)


</trial>



Mild Positive Trial 


<trial targetMP>


/stimulusframes = [1=targetMP; 200=erasescreen]


/response = timeout(200)


</trial>



Mild Threat Trial 


<trial targetMT>


/stimulusframes = [1=targetMT; 200=erasescreen]


/response = timeout(200)


</trial>



*************************** Likert **********************************



<likert likertSCS>


/ anchors = [1= "Against"; 2= "2" , 3 = "3" , 4 = "4" , 5 = "5" , 6 = "6" , 7 = "For"]


/ numpoints = 7


/ stimulusframes = [1 = SCStextquestions]


/ position = (50%,90%)


/ anchorwidth = 5%


/ fontstyle = ("Verdana", 8pt , true)


/ mouse=false


/ numpoints= 7


</likert>



<likert likertRWA>


/ anchors = [1= "Strongly disagree"; 2= "2" , 3 = "3" , 4 = "4" , 5 = "5" , 6 = "6" , 7 = "7" , 8 = "8" , 9 = "Strongly Agree"]


/ numpoints = 9


/ stimulusframes = [1 = RWAtextquestions]


/ position = (50%,90%)


/ anchorwidth = 5%


/ fontstyle = ("Verdana", 8pt , true)


/ mouse=false


/ numpoints= 9


</likert>




************************** Blocks ***************************************



<block block1>


/ trials = [1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15,17,19,21,23,25,27,29,31,33,35,37,39,41,43,45,47,49=noreplacenorepeat(targetMT, targetHT, targetMP, targetHP, targetN); 2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18,20,22,24,26,28,30,32,34,36,38,40,42,44,46,48,50=noreplacenorepeat(likertSCS)]


</block>



<block block2>


/ trials = [1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15,17,19,21,23,25,27,29,31,33,35,37,39,41,43,45,47,49=noreplacenorepeat(targetMT, targetHT, targetMP, targetHP, targetN); 2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18,20,22,24,26,28,30,32,34,36,38,40,42,44,46,48,50=noreplacenorepeat(likertRWA)]


</block>







************************** Experiment *************************************



<expt>



/preinstructions = (testSCS)


/blocks = [1=block1]


/preinstructions = (testRWA)


/blocks = [2=block2]


/postinstructions= (end)



</expt>









************************* Intructions **************************************



<instruct> 


/nextlabel= "press the spacebar to proceed"


/lastlabel= "Press the spacebar to proceed"


/nextkey = (" ")


/fontstyle = ("Arial", 2%. false , false , false , false, 5, 0)


</instruct>



<page testSCS>



In the next phase of the experiment, you will be presented with images and asked questions about your political beliefs. On each of the 25 trials, you will be shown an image for 2 seconds and then asked to indicate on a 1-7 scale, the extent to which you are 'for' or 'against' a given political issue. Please answer these questions as honestly as possible. 



</page>



<page testRWA>



In the next phase of the experiment, you will again be presented with images and asked questions about your political beliefs. On each of the 22 trials, you will be shown an image for 2 seconds and then asked to indicate on a 1-9 scale, the extent to which you agree or disagree with each given political issue. Please answer these questions as honestly as possible. 



</page>




<page end>



Please proceed to the next phase of the experiment. 



</page>



By Dave - 2/8/2013

I'm not sure why I'm getting this message as I'm pretty sure that block 1 *is* assigned. 


No, it's not as you can easily verify by looking at your <expt> element:



<expt>



/preinstructions = (testSCS)


/blocks = [1=block1]


/preinstructions = (testRWA)


/blocks = [2=block2]


/postinstructions= (end)



</expt>



You cannot have multiple /block attributes in an <expt>. Here the latter will override the former.


The correct syntax is simply


/ blocks = [1=block1; 2=block2]


as detailed in the documentation for the /blocks attribute and as covered in the various tutorials (which I recommend you complete before moving forward).


Regards,


~Dave

By Shona - 2/8/2013

Thanks so much for your fast reply Dave! 


I'm wondering though, given that I have to insert the block commandments right next to each other on the same line, how do I make sure that participants receive a second set of instructions before they begin the 2nd block?


Thanks agains so much for your help!


Shona

By Dave - 2/8/2013

You use the respective <block> elements' /preinstructions and /postinstructions attributes.

By Shona - 2/8/2013

Thanks so much! Just one more question: How do I make sure that the blocks are presented in random order?

By Dave - 2/8/2013

/ blocks = [1-2=noreplace(block1,block2)]


You can save yourself many a headache by taking a day or two and working through the tutorials front to back. You will find all of those basics covered there.

By Shona - 2/8/2013

thanks!