Millisecond Forums » Millisecond Forums » Inquisit 6 » Monkey failing on drag/drop trials

Monkey failing on drag/drop trials

AKrishna — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 14:09:44 GMT

Sorry if this is a doubled post, I can't see my original topic and I fear the forum may have swallowed it.

I'm working on a scrambled sentences task implemented using the drag and drop function. Normally, I create large datasets with the monkey prior to actual data collection in order to make sure I'm collecting all the data points I need and to test randomization etc. However, the monkey is freezing on the drag and drop trials. Here's a code example:

[code]## word stimuli, ordered so that word1 is the first word in the sentence, word2 the second and so on, with word5 being the distracter word

<item word1>
/1 = "he"
</item>

<item word2>
/1 = "buys"
</item>

<item word3>
/1 = "mature"
</item>

<item word4>
/1 = "whiskey"
</item>

<item word5>
/1 = "taken"
</item>

## list to randomize presentation order of words

<list wordorder>
/items = (20pct,30pct,40pct,50pct,60pct)
/replace = false
/ selectionrate = always
</list>

## word stimuli to drag

<text word1>
/ items = word1
/size = (220,60)
/color = white
/fontstyle = ("Arial",26pt)
/txcolor = black
/position = (20%,30%)
/ dropsource = true
</text>

<text word2>
/ items = word2
/size = (220,60)
/color = white
/fontstyle = ("Arial",26pt)
/txcolor = black
/position = (30%,30%)
/ dropsource = true
</text>

<text word3>
/ items = word3
/size = (220,60)
/color = white
/fontstyle = ("Arial",26pt)
/txcolor = black
/position = (40%,30%)
/ dropsource = true
</text>

<text word4>
/ items = word4
/size = (220,60)
/color = white
/fontstyle = ("Arial",26pt)
/txcolor = black
/position = (50%,30%)
/ dropsource = true
</text>

<text word5>
/ items = word5
/size = (220,60)
/color = white
/fontstyle = ("Arial",26pt)
/txcolor = black
/position = (60%,30%)
/ dropsource = true
</text>

## boxes to drop words in

<shape slot1>
/shape = rectangle
/size = (220,60)
/color = gray
/position = (20%,80%)
/ droptarget = true
</shape>

<shape slot2>
/shape = rectangle
/size = (220,60)
/color = gray
/position = (40%,80%)
/ droptarget = true
</shape>

<shape slot3>
/shape = rectangle
/size = (220,60)
/color = gray
/ droptarget = true
/position = (60%,80%)
</shape>

<shape slot4>
/shape = rectangle
/size = (220,60)
/color = gray
/ droptarget = true
/position = (80%,80%)
</shape>

## main trial, randomizes positions and only moves forward when the answer is correct

<trial dragtrial>
/ ontrialbegin = [
    list.wordorder.resetselection()
]

/ontrialbegin = [
text.word1.hposition = list.wordorder.nextvalue;
text.word2.hposition= list.wordorder.nextvalue;
text.word3.hposition= list.wordorder.nextvalue;
text.word4.hposition= list.wordorder.nextvalue;
text.word5.hposition= list.wordorder.nextvalue;
    text.word1.vposition = 30pct;
    text.word2.vposition = 30pct;
    text.word3.vposition = 30pct;
    text.word4.vposition = 30pct;
    text.word5.vposition = 30pct;
]
/stimulustimes = [0 = word1, word2, word3, word4, word5, slot1, slot2, slot3, slot4]
/ inputdevice = dragdrop
/ isvalidresponse = [
    expressions.IsValidDragTrial
]
/ iscorrectresponse = [
    text.word1.hposition == display.getpixelsx(shape.slot1.hposition) &&
    text.word2.hposition == display.getpixelsx(shape.slot2.hposition) &&
    text.word3.hposition == display.getpixelsx(shape.slot3.hposition) &&
    text.word4.hposition == display.getpixelsx(shape.slot4.hposition)
]
/ branch = [
    if (trial.dragtrial.error) trial.dragtrial
]
/ dropsources = (word1, word2, word3, word4)
/ droptargets = (slot1, slot2, slot3, slot4)

</trial>

## looped expression that checks whether every word has been dropped on a slot and returns true only
## if this is the case, thus preventing the trial from moving forward until the participant has
## made a complete response

<expressions>
/ IsValidDragTrial = {
    var ValidCount = 0;
    var WordCurrentXPos;
    var WordCurrentYPos;
    var SlotCurrentXPos;
    var SlotCurrentYPos;
    while (list.WordStimuli.unselectedcount > 0) {
        list.WordStimuli.nextvalue;
        WordCurrentXPos = evaluate(concat(list.WordStimuli.currentvalue, ".hposition"));
        WordCurrentYPos = evaluate(concat(list.WordStimuli.currentvalue, ".vposition"));
        while (list.Slots.unselectedcount > 0) {
            list.Slots.nextvalue;
            SlotCurrentXPos = evaluate(concat(list.Slots.currentvalue, ".hposition"));
            SlotCurrentYPos = evaluate(concat(list.Slots.currentvalue, ".vposition"));
            SlotCurrentXPos = display.getpixelsx(SlotCurrentXPos);
            SlotCurrentYPos = display.getpixelsy(SlotCurrentYPos);
            if (WordCurrentXPos == SlotCurrentXPos && WordCurrentYPos == SlotCurrentYPos) {
                ValidCount += 1;
            };
        };
        list.Slots.resetselection();
    };
    list.WordStimuli.resetselection();
    if (ValidCount >= 4) return true else return false
}
</expressions>

<list WordStimuli>
/items = ("text.word1", "text.word2", "text.word3", "text.word4", "text.word5")
/ selectionrate = always
/ selectionmode = sequence

</list>

<list Slots>
/items = ("shape.slot1", "shape.slot2", "shape.slot3", "shape.slot4")
/ selectionrate = always
/ selectionmode = sequence
</list>

<page scrambledsentences>
On the next page you will see five words at a time.^^
Four of these words form a grammatically correct sentence together while one word is left over each time.^^
Your task is to find the correct sentence. ^^
To complete the task use the mouse to place the words in the correct order into the fields below. ^^
To do this, hold down the left mouse button and drag the words into the correct target position.^^
</page>

<block scrambledsentences>
/preinstructions = (page.scrambledsentences)
/trials = [1 = dragtrial]
</block>[/code]

I've already tried removing the /isvalidresponse property in case that was causing trouble, but the monkey still freezes. Would appreciate any help!

RE: Monkey failing on drag/drop trials

AKrishna — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 14:09:44 GMT

+x[quote]

[b]Dave - 12/16/2025[/b]
+x[quote]

[b]AKrishna - 12/16/2025[/b]
Sorry if this is a doubled post, I can't see my original topic and I fear the forum may have swallowed it.

I'm working on a scrambled sentences task implemented using the drag and drop function. Normally, I create large datasets with the monkey prior to actual data collection in order to make sure I'm collecting all the data points I need and to test randomization etc. However, the monkey is freezing on the drag and drop trials. Here's a code example:

[code]## word stimuli, ordered so that word1 is the first word in the sentence, word2 the second and so on, with word5 being the distracter word

<item word1>
/1 = "he"
</item>

<item word2>
/1 = "buys"
</item>

<item word3>
/1 = "mature"
</item>

<item word4>
/1 = "whiskey"
</item>

<item word5>
/1 = "taken"
</item>

## list to randomize presentation order of words

<list wordorder>
/items = (20pct,30pct,40pct,50pct,60pct)
/replace = false
/ selectionrate = always
</list>

## word stimuli to drag

<text word1>
/ items = word1
/size = (220,60)
/color = white
/fontstyle = ("Arial",26pt)
/txcolor = black
/position = (20%,30%)
/ dropsource = true
</text>

<text word2>
/ items = word2
/size = (220,60)
/color = white
/fontstyle = ("Arial",26pt)
/txcolor = black
/position = (30%,30%)
/ dropsource = true
</text>

<text word3>
/ items = word3
/size = (220,60)
/color = white
/fontstyle = ("Arial",26pt)
/txcolor = black
/position = (40%,30%)
/ dropsource = true
</text>

<text word4>
/ items = word4
/size = (220,60)
/color = white
/fontstyle = ("Arial",26pt)
/txcolor = black
/position = (50%,30%)
/ dropsource = true
</text>

<text word5>
/ items = word5
/size = (220,60)
/color = white
/fontstyle = ("Arial",26pt)
/txcolor = black
/position = (60%,30%)
/ dropsource = true
</text>

## boxes to drop words in

<shape slot1>
/shape = rectangle
/size = (220,60)
/color = gray
/position = (20%,80%)
/ droptarget = true
</shape>

<shape slot2>
/shape = rectangle
/size = (220,60)
/color = gray
/position = (40%,80%)
/ droptarget = true
</shape>

<shape slot3>
/shape = rectangle
/size = (220,60)
/color = gray
/ droptarget = true
/position = (60%,80%)
</shape>

<shape slot4>
/shape = rectangle
/size = (220,60)
/color = gray
/ droptarget = true
/position = (80%,80%)
</shape>

## main trial, randomizes positions and only moves forward when the answer is correct

<trial dragtrial>
/ ontrialbegin = [
    list.wordorder.resetselection()
]

/ontrialbegin = [
text.word1.hposition = list.wordorder.nextvalue;
text.word2.hposition= list.wordorder.nextvalue;
text.word3.hposition= list.wordorder.nextvalue;
text.word4.hposition= list.wordorder.nextvalue;
text.word5.hposition= list.wordorder.nextvalue;
    text.word1.vposition = 30pct;
    text.word2.vposition = 30pct;
    text.word3.vposition = 30pct;
    text.word4.vposition = 30pct;
    text.word5.vposition = 30pct;
]
/stimulustimes = [0 = word1, word2, word3, word4, word5, slot1, slot2, slot3, slot4]
/ inputdevice = dragdrop
/ isvalidresponse = [
    expressions.IsValidDragTrial
]
/ iscorrectresponse = [
    text.word1.hposition == display.getpixelsx(shape.slot1.hposition) &&
    text.word2.hposition == display.getpixelsx(shape.slot2.hposition) &&
    text.word3.hposition == display.getpixelsx(shape.slot3.hposition) &&
    text.word4.hposition == display.getpixelsx(shape.slot4.hposition)
]
/ branch = [
    if (trial.dragtrial.error) trial.dragtrial
]
/ dropsources = (word1, word2, word3, word4)
/ droptargets = (slot1, slot2, slot3, slot4)

</trial>

## looped expression that checks whether every word has been dropped on a slot and returns true only
## if this is the case, thus preventing the trial from moving forward until the participant has
## made a complete response

<expressions>
/ IsValidDragTrial = {
    var ValidCount = 0;
    var WordCurrentXPos;
    var WordCurrentYPos;
    var SlotCurrentXPos;
    var SlotCurrentYPos;
    while (list.WordStimuli.unselectedcount > 0) {
        list.WordStimuli.nextvalue;
        WordCurrentXPos = evaluate(concat(list.WordStimuli.currentvalue, ".hposition"));
        WordCurrentYPos = evaluate(concat(list.WordStimuli.currentvalue, ".vposition"));
        while (list.Slots.unselectedcount > 0) {
            list.Slots.nextvalue;
            SlotCurrentXPos = evaluate(concat(list.Slots.currentvalue, ".hposition"));
            SlotCurrentYPos = evaluate(concat(list.Slots.currentvalue, ".vposition"));
            SlotCurrentXPos = display.getpixelsx(SlotCurrentXPos);
            SlotCurrentYPos = display.getpixelsy(SlotCurrentYPos);
            if (WordCurrentXPos == SlotCurrentXPos && WordCurrentYPos == SlotCurrentYPos) {
                ValidCount += 1;
            };
        };
        list.Slots.resetselection();
    };
    list.WordStimuli.resetselection();
    if (ValidCount >= 4) return true else return false
}
</expressions>

<list WordStimuli>
/items = ("text.word1", "text.word2", "text.word3", "text.word4", "text.word5")
/ selectionrate = always
/ selectionmode = sequence

</list>

<list Slots>
/items = ("shape.slot1", "shape.slot2", "shape.slot3", "shape.slot4")
/ selectionrate = always
/ selectionmode = sequence
</list>

<page scrambledsentences>
On the next page you will see five words at a time.^^
Four of these words form a grammatically correct sentence together while one word is left over each time.^^
Your task is to find the correct sentence. ^^
To complete the task use the mouse to place the words in the correct order into the fields below. ^^
To do this, hold down the left mouse button and drag the words into the correct target position.^^
</page>

<block scrambledsentences>
/preinstructions = (page.scrambledsentences)
/trials = [1 = dragtrial]
</block>[/code]

I've already tried removing the /isvalidresponse property in case that was causing trouble, but the monkey still freezes. Would appreciate any help!
[/quote]

In short, you need to make use of the /monkeyResponse attribute.

https://www.millisecond.com/support/docs/v6/html/language/attributes/monkeyresponse.htm

[code]<trial dragtrial>
/ ontrialbegin = [
list.wordorder.resetselection()
]

/ontrialbegin = [
text.word1.hposition = list.wordorder.nextvalue;
text.word2.hposition= list.wordorder.nextvalue;
text.word3.hposition= list.wordorder.nextvalue;
text.word4.hposition= list.wordorder.nextvalue;
text.word5.hposition= list.wordorder.nextvalue;
text.word1.vposition = 30pct;
text.word2.vposition = 30pct;
text.word3.vposition = 30pct;
text.word4.vposition = 30pct;
text.word5.vposition = 30pct;
]
/stimulustimes = [0 = word1, word2, word3, word4, word5, slot1, slot2, slot3, slot4]
/ inputdevice = dragdrop
/ isvalidresponse = [
expressions.IsValidDragTrial
]
/ iscorrectresponse = [
text.word1.hposition == display.getpixelsx(shape.slot1.hposition) &&
text.word2.hposition == display.getpixelsx(shape.slot2.hposition) &&
text.word3.hposition == display.getpixelsx(shape.slot3.hposition) &&
text.word4.hposition == display.getpixelsx(shape.slot4.hposition)
]
/ branch = [
if (trial.dragtrial.error) trial.dragtrial
]
/ dropsources = (word1, word2, word3, word4)
/ droptargets = (slot1, slot2, slot3, slot4)
/ monkeyresponse = (list.monkeyTargets.nextvalue)
</trial>

<list monkeyTargets>
/ items = (shape.slot1, shape.slot2, shape.slot3, shape.slot4)
/ selectionmode = sequence
/ selectionrate = always
</list>[/code]

You'll probably also want to make some addition to the isValidDragTrial expression, to allow the trial to be a pass once the monkey has populated all four slots (no matter the word order), i.e. make it behave differently based on the value of the monkey.monkeymode property.

[/quote]

Cheers, that was the problem. As a side note, because your post gives me the impression you might expect something different: implementing this actually made the monkey drag all the words to the same target in each trial (slot 1 in trial 1, slot 2 in trial 2 and so on), rather than populating each slot. It seems the selectionrate = always attribute doesn't affect the monkey's response behavior; it acts as though selectionrate = trial. I guess this makes sense; Inquisit isn't designed for multiple "responses" per trial, so it wouldn't normally be necessary to draw multiple response locations in one trial. Interesting fringe case

RE: Monkey failing on drag/drop trials

Dave — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 13:08:36 GMT

+x[quote]

[b]AKrishna - 12/16/2025[/b]
Sorry if this is a doubled post, I can't see my original topic and I fear the forum may have swallowed it.

I'm working on a scrambled sentences task implemented using the drag and drop function. Normally, I create large datasets with the monkey prior to actual data collection in order to make sure I'm collecting all the data points I need and to test randomization etc. However, the monkey is freezing on the drag and drop trials. Here's a code example:

[code]## word stimuli, ordered so that word1 is the first word in the sentence, word2 the second and so on, with word5 being the distracter word

<item word1>
/1 = "he"
</item>

<item word2>
/1 = "buys"
</item>

<item word3>
/1 = "mature"
</item>

<item word4>
/1 = "whiskey"
</item>

<item word5>
/1 = "taken"
</item>

## list to randomize presentation order of words

<list wordorder>
/items = (20pct,30pct,40pct,50pct,60pct)
/replace = false
/ selectionrate = always
</list>

## word stimuli to drag

<text word1>
/ items = word1
/size = (220,60)
/color = white
/fontstyle = ("Arial",26pt)
/txcolor = black
/position = (20%,30%)
/ dropsource = true
</text>

<text word2>
/ items = word2
/size = (220,60)
/color = white
/fontstyle = ("Arial",26pt)
/txcolor = black
/position = (30%,30%)
/ dropsource = true
</text>

<text word3>
/ items = word3
/size = (220,60)
/color = white
/fontstyle = ("Arial",26pt)
/txcolor = black
/position = (40%,30%)
/ dropsource = true
</text>

<text word4>
/ items = word4
/size = (220,60)
/color = white
/fontstyle = ("Arial",26pt)
/txcolor = black
/position = (50%,30%)
/ dropsource = true
</text>

<text word5>
/ items = word5
/size = (220,60)
/color = white
/fontstyle = ("Arial",26pt)
/txcolor = black
/position = (60%,30%)
/ dropsource = true
</text>

## boxes to drop words in

<shape slot1>
/shape = rectangle
/size = (220,60)
/color = gray
/position = (20%,80%)
/ droptarget = true
</shape>

<shape slot2>
/shape = rectangle
/size = (220,60)
/color = gray
/position = (40%,80%)
/ droptarget = true
</shape>

<shape slot3>
/shape = rectangle
/size = (220,60)
/color = gray
/ droptarget = true
/position = (60%,80%)
</shape>

<shape slot4>
/shape = rectangle
/size = (220,60)
/color = gray
/ droptarget = true
/position = (80%,80%)
</shape>

## main trial, randomizes positions and only moves forward when the answer is correct

<trial dragtrial>
/ ontrialbegin = [
    list.wordorder.resetselection()
]

/ontrialbegin = [
text.word1.hposition = list.wordorder.nextvalue;
text.word2.hposition= list.wordorder.nextvalue;
text.word3.hposition= list.wordorder.nextvalue;
text.word4.hposition= list.wordorder.nextvalue;
text.word5.hposition= list.wordorder.nextvalue;
    text.word1.vposition = 30pct;
    text.word2.vposition = 30pct;
    text.word3.vposition = 30pct;
    text.word4.vposition = 30pct;
    text.word5.vposition = 30pct;
]
/stimulustimes = [0 = word1, word2, word3, word4, word5, slot1, slot2, slot3, slot4]
/ inputdevice = dragdrop
/ isvalidresponse = [
    expressions.IsValidDragTrial
]
/ iscorrectresponse = [
    text.word1.hposition == display.getpixelsx(shape.slot1.hposition) &&
    text.word2.hposition == display.getpixelsx(shape.slot2.hposition) &&
    text.word3.hposition == display.getpixelsx(shape.slot3.hposition) &&
    text.word4.hposition == display.getpixelsx(shape.slot4.hposition)
]
/ branch = [
    if (trial.dragtrial.error) trial.dragtrial
]
/ dropsources = (word1, word2, word3, word4)
/ droptargets = (slot1, slot2, slot3, slot4)

</trial>

## looped expression that checks whether every word has been dropped on a slot and returns true only
## if this is the case, thus preventing the trial from moving forward until the participant has
## made a complete response

<expressions>
/ IsValidDragTrial = {
    var ValidCount = 0;
    var WordCurrentXPos;
    var WordCurrentYPos;
    var SlotCurrentXPos;
    var SlotCurrentYPos;
    while (list.WordStimuli.unselectedcount > 0) {
        list.WordStimuli.nextvalue;
        WordCurrentXPos = evaluate(concat(list.WordStimuli.currentvalue, ".hposition"));
        WordCurrentYPos = evaluate(concat(list.WordStimuli.currentvalue, ".vposition"));
        while (list.Slots.unselectedcount > 0) {
            list.Slots.nextvalue;
            SlotCurrentXPos = evaluate(concat(list.Slots.currentvalue, ".hposition"));
            SlotCurrentYPos = evaluate(concat(list.Slots.currentvalue, ".vposition"));
            SlotCurrentXPos = display.getpixelsx(SlotCurrentXPos);
            SlotCurrentYPos = display.getpixelsy(SlotCurrentYPos);
            if (WordCurrentXPos == SlotCurrentXPos && WordCurrentYPos == SlotCurrentYPos) {
                ValidCount += 1;
            };
        };
        list.Slots.resetselection();
    };
    list.WordStimuli.resetselection();
    if (ValidCount >= 4) return true else return false
}
</expressions>

<list WordStimuli>
/items = ("text.word1", "text.word2", "text.word3", "text.word4", "text.word5")
/ selectionrate = always
/ selectionmode = sequence

</list>

<list Slots>
/items = ("shape.slot1", "shape.slot2", "shape.slot3", "shape.slot4")
/ selectionrate = always
/ selectionmode = sequence
</list>

<page scrambledsentences>
On the next page you will see five words at a time.^^
Four of these words form a grammatically correct sentence together while one word is left over each time.^^
Your task is to find the correct sentence. ^^
To complete the task use the mouse to place the words in the correct order into the fields below. ^^
To do this, hold down the left mouse button and drag the words into the correct target position.^^
</page>

<block scrambledsentences>
/preinstructions = (page.scrambledsentences)
/trials = [1 = dragtrial]
</block>[/code]

I've already tried removing the /isvalidresponse property in case that was causing trouble, but the monkey still freezes. Would appreciate any help!
[/quote]

In short, you need to make use of the /monkeyResponse attribute.

https://www.millisecond.com/support/docs/v6/html/language/attributes/monkeyresponse.htm

[code]<trial dragtrial>
/ ontrialbegin = [
list.wordorder.resetselection()
]

/ontrialbegin = [
text.word1.hposition = list.wordorder.nextvalue;
text.word2.hposition= list.wordorder.nextvalue;
text.word3.hposition= list.wordorder.nextvalue;
text.word4.hposition= list.wordorder.nextvalue;
text.word5.hposition= list.wordorder.nextvalue;
text.word1.vposition = 30pct;
text.word2.vposition = 30pct;
text.word3.vposition = 30pct;
text.word4.vposition = 30pct;
text.word5.vposition = 30pct;
]
/stimulustimes = [0 = word1, word2, word3, word4, word5, slot1, slot2, slot3, slot4]
/ inputdevice = dragdrop
/ isvalidresponse = [
expressions.IsValidDragTrial
]
/ iscorrectresponse = [
text.word1.hposition == display.getpixelsx(shape.slot1.hposition) &&
text.word2.hposition == display.getpixelsx(shape.slot2.hposition) &&
text.word3.hposition == display.getpixelsx(shape.slot3.hposition) &&
text.word4.hposition == display.getpixelsx(shape.slot4.hposition)
]
/ branch = [
if (trial.dragtrial.error) trial.dragtrial
]
/ dropsources = (word1, word2, word3, word4)
/ droptargets = (slot1, slot2, slot3, slot4)
/ monkeyresponse = (list.monkeyTargets.nextvalue)
</trial>

<list monkeyTargets>
/ items = (shape.slot1, shape.slot2, shape.slot3, shape.slot4)
/ selectionmode = sequence
/ selectionrate = always
</list>[/code]

You'll probably also want to make some addition to the isValidDragTrial expression, to allow the trial to be a pass once the monkey has populated all four slots (no matter the word order), i.e. make it behave differently based on the value of the monkey.monkeymode property.