Millisecond Forums

Dear all,

A week or so ago I received some fantastic help regarding some data recording problems - alas, I have encountered a few errors, and although my knowledge is growing, I only have a few hairs left of which to pull out, and I'm quite fond of them.

Essentially, I have a task that involves people estimating the amount of time between them pressing the space bar, and an image appearing. There are three different types of faces (happy, sad, neutral) and after the image disappears after 400ms, a time estimation bar appears, where the participant drags the pointer along a scale that is between 100-1000ms, with intervals of 100ms. The experimental conditions are that the face will appear after either 100, 400, or 700ms. The trouble is, is that although the experiment works, and the data records the time they estimated via the time estimation scale, the data file doesn't actually record what time (either 100, 400, or 700ms) the face appears. I was advised to set:

<values>
/onset = 0
</values>

and then, within the trial:

/ontrialend = [values.onset = list.targetdurations.currentvalue]

This appeared to work, and I was convinced that was case closed. However, it produces errors, and records the incorrect time most of the time. Is there something I have implemented incorrectly? I am measuring time perception errors, so I need to compare their time-estimated vs the actual time the stimulus appears. 

Another data recording trouble, is that it records the participant's time estimation for the practice trial, under values.estimation, despite recorddata set to false. I have no idea how this occurs, but that is not surprising, given my lack of knowledge on Inquisit, and I apologise if this issue has been covered in another post.

Lastly, I would like to record a numerical code for the trials, as well as their names, for greater data analysis ease later on. I tried simply:

<values stimuli>
/stimuli = 0
</values>

And then, within <trial trialhappyface>:
/ontrialend = [values.stimuli = 1 ]

With values.stimuli = 2, for <trial trialneutralface> and 3 for <trial trialsadface>, and put the values.stimuli within the data columns. However, that didn't (as you may have guessed) did not work.

I must emphasise my beginner's level of knowledge, so I also apologise if any of my mistakes have been particularly embarrassing. If someone could point me in the right direction, that would be immensely appreciated. My script is just below.

Many thanks again,
Josh

*******************************************************************************************************************
*******************************************************************************************************************
INSTRUCTIONS
*******************************************************************************************************************
*******************************************************************************************************************
<instruct>
/windowsize = (90%, 90%)
/ fontstyle = ("Arial", 3.00%, false, false, false, false, 5, 1)
/ txcolor = (black)
/ screencolor = (255, 255, 255)
/ finishlabel = "Press <Spacebar>"
/nextkey = (57)
/nextlabel = "Press <Spacebar> to continue"
/ prevkey = (28)
/prevlabel = "Press <Enter> to go back"
</instruct>

<page consent>^^Welcome!
^^Thank you for your interest in taking part in the research project entitled Emotional valence and Sense of Agency. The aim of the project is to better understand the mechanisms that allow humans to prepare voluntary actions, as well as how we process the effects of our actions.
^^During this experiment you will be asked to perform simple voluntary actions (such as button presses with the left or right hand), while seated at a computer. You will also be asked to provide judgements regarding the time of pictures that appear after you press the button.
^^During the task we will record your action times and action choices, as well as your timing judgements. This data will be used to complete a research report and may contribute towards future scientific publications or research proposals. Data will be kept anonymously, and when used in such reports will be reported anonymously. You have the right to withdraw at any time without prejudice and without providing a reason.
^^By continuing to the experiment, I confirm that I have understood the information provided above and I consent to participating in this experiment.
</page>

<page welcome>^^This task consists of 100 time estimation trials – the first 10 will be practice trials.
^^In the practice trials you will see a fixation cross (‘+’). When you are ready, press the spacebar to produce an image. Afterwards, you will be asked to estimate the time it took for the image to appear.
^^In other words, the time between you pressing the spacebar and the image appearing.
^^To estimate the time, you will be asked to use a scrollbar that will appear after the image. You will be estimating the time in milliseconds (ms). There are 1000ms in 1 second, and an eyeblink takes around 200ms.
</page>

<page welcome2>^^Once you have completed the practice trials and are familiarised with the task, you will proceed onto the main experiment.
^^In the practice trials, you will receive feedback on your time estimation; however, you will not receive feedback in the main experiment.
</page>

<page main>^^Now you will begin the main experiment.^^Again, you will see a fixation cross, and, when you are ready, press the spacebar to produce an image.^^You will not receive any feedback regarding your time, so make sure you estimate the time as accurately as possible.
</page>

<page end>^^Thank you for taking part in the experiment.
</page>


*******************************************************************************************************************
*******************************************************************************************************************
DEFAULTS
*******************************************************************************************************************
*******************************************************************************************************************
requires Inquisit 4.0.3.0

<defaults>
/minimumversion = "4.0.3.0"
/canvasaspectratio = (4,3)
/quitcommand = (Alt+18)
</defaults>

*******************************************************************************************************************
*******************************************************************************************************************
VALUES
*******************************************************************************************************************
*******************************************************************************************************************
/completed:0 = script was not completed (prematurely aborted); 1 = script was completed (all conditions run)

/intervalestimation:stores the participant's estimation

********************
automatically updated
********************
<values>
/completed = 0
/intervalestimation = 0
</values>

<values>
/onset = 0
</values>

*******************************************************************************************************************
*******************************************************************************************************************
DATA
*******************************************************************************************************************
*******************************************************************************************************************

********************
raw data
********************
build:Inquisit build
date, time, subject, group:date and time script was run with the current subject/groupnumber
blockcode, blocknum:the name and number of the current block
trialcode, trialnum: the name and number of the currently recorded trial
(Note: not all trials that are run might record data)
/intervalestimation:stores the participant's estimation
latency: the response latency (in ms)

<data>
/file = "ProspectiveTimeEstimation_rawdata.iqdat"
/separatefiles = true
/columns = [build, date, time, subject, trialcode, values.onset, values.intervalestimation, script.elapsedtime]
/separatefiles = true
</data>

********************
summary data
********************

script.startdate:date script was run
script.starttime:time script was started
script.subjectid:subject id number
script.groupid:group id number
script.elapsedtime:time it took to run script (in ms)
/completed:0 = script was not completed (prematurely aborted); 1 = script was completed (all conditions run)

<summarydata >
/file = "ProspectiveTimeEstimation_summary.iqdat"
/columns = [script.startdate, script.starttime, script.subjectid, script.groupid, script.elapsedtime, values.completed]
</summarydata>


*******************************************************************************************************************
*******************************************************************************************************************
LISTS
*******************************************************************************************************************
*******************************************************************************************************************

<list targetduration>
/items = (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900)
/replace = true
</list>

<list targetdurationh>
/items = (100, 400, 700)
/poolsize = 30
/replace = false
</list>

<list targetdurationn>
/items = (100, 400, 700)
/poolsize = 30
/replace = false
</list>

<list targetdurations>
/items = (100, 400, 700)
/poolsize = 30
/replace = false
</list>

*******************************************************************************************************************
*******************************************************************************************************************
STIMULI
*******************************************************************************************************************
*******************************************************************************************************************
Stimuli presentation (Emoticons):
<item emoticonsh>
/1 = "HappyFace.png"
</item>

<picture emoticonsh>
/items = emoticonsh
/position = (50, 50)
</picture>

<item emoticonsn>
/2 = "NeutralFace.png"
</item>

<picture emoticonsn>
/items = emoticonsn
/position = (50, 50)
</picture>

<item emoticonss>
/3 = "SadFace.png"
</item>

<picture emoticonss>
/items = emoticonss
/position = (50, 50)
</picture>


Extra stimuli:

<shape circle>
/shape = circle
/size = (1% * 3/4 * 10, 10%)
/color = green
/position = (50%, 50%)
/erase = false
</shape>

<text cross>
/items = ("+")
/color = (0,0,0)
</text>

<text blank>
/items = (" ")
/color = (0,0,0)
</text>

<shape whiterectangle>
/shape = rectangle
/size = (70%, 70%)
/color = white
/position = (50%, 50%)
/erase = false
</shape>


Time estimation slide scale:

<slider TE_response>
/ caption="How much time before the image appeared (in ms)?"
/ labels=("0s", "100ms", "200ms", "300ms", "400ms", "500ms", "600ms", "700ms", "800ms", "900ms", "1000ms")
/responsefontstyle = ("Arial", 1.5%, false, false, false, false, 5, 1)
/ txcolor = (0, 0, 0)
/ range = (0, 1000)
/ increment = 100
/showticks = true
/slidersize = (70%, 30%)
/position = (10%, 50%)
/defaultresponse = 0
</slider>

*******************************************************************************************************************
*******************************************************************************************************************
TRIALS
*******************************************************************************************************************
*******************************************************************************************************************

*********
Practice trials
*********

<trial practice>
/stimulustimes = [500 = cross]
/correctresponse = (" ")
/pretrialpause = 500
/branch = [trial.practicedot]
/recorddata = false
</trial>

Note: presents a face after correct response
Spacebar advances to time estimation
<trial practicedot>
/stimulustimes = [1 = whiterectangle]
/ontrialbegin = [trial.practicedot.insertstimulustime(shape.circle, list.targetduration.nextvalue)]
/ontrialbegin = [trial.practicedot.insertstimulustime(shape.whiterectangle, list.targetduration.currentvalue+400)]
/ontrialend = [trial.practicedot.setstimulustime(shape.whiterectangle, list.targetduration.currentvalue)]
/ontrialend = [trial.practicedot.resetstimulusframes(100)]
/timeout = (list.targetduration.currentvalue+1000)
/branch = [surveypage.tep]
/recorddata = false
</trial>

Note: presents time estimation slide scale

<surveypage TEp>
/questions = [1 = TE_response]
/showpagenumbers = false
/ontrialend = [values.intervalestimation = slider.te_response.response]
/recorddata = false
/branch = [trial.feedback]
</surveypage>

<trial feedback>
/stimulustimes = [100 = endtrial]
/pretrialpause = 200
/correctresponse = (57)
/recorddata = false
</trial>

<text endtrial>
/items = ("The time interval to be estimated was: <%list.targetduration.currentvalue%>ms

Your estimation: <%slider.te_response.response%>ms

Press <Spacebar> to continue")
</text>

*********
Emoticon presentation - Positive
*********

<trial trialhappystart>
/stimulustimes = [500 = cross]
/correctresponse = (" ")
/pretrialpause = 500
/branch = [trial.trialhappyface]
/recorddata = false
</trial>

Note: presents a face after correct response
Spacebar advances to time estimation
<trial trialhappyface>
/stimulustimes = [1 = whiterectangle]
/ontrialbegin = [trial.trialhappyface.insertstimulustime(picture.emoticonsh, list.targetdurationh.nextvalue)]
/ontrialbegin = [trial.trialhappyface.insertstimulustime(shape.whiterectangle, list.targetdurationh.currentvalue+400)]
/ontrialend = [trial.trialhappyface.setstimulustime(shape.whiterectangle, list.targetdurationh.currentvalue)]
/ontrialend = [values.onset = list.targetdurations.currentvalue]
/ontrialend = [trial.trialhappyface.resetstimulusframes(100)]
/timeout = (list.targetdurationh.currentvalue+1000)
/branch = [surveypage.te]
/recorddata = true
</trial>



*********
Emoticon presentation - Neutral
*********

<trial trialneutralstart>
/stimulustimes = [500 = cross]
/correctresponse = (" ")
/pretrialpause = 500
/branch = [trial.trialneutralface]
/recorddata = false
</trial>

Note: presents a face after correct response
Spacebar advances to time estimation
<trial trialneutralface>
/stimulustimes = [1 = whiterectangle]
/ontrialbegin = [trial.trialneutralface.insertstimulustime(picture.emoticonsn, list.targetdurationn.nextvalue)]
/ontrialbegin = [trial.trialneutralface.insertstimulustime(shape.whiterectangle, list.targetdurationn.currentvalue+400)]
/ontrialend = [trial.trialneutralface.setstimulustime(shape.whiterectangle, list.targetdurationn.currentvalue)]
/ontrialend = [values.onset = list.targetdurations.currentvalue]
/ontrialend = [trial.trialneutralface.resetstimulusframes(100)]
/timeout = (list.targetdurationn.currentvalue+1000)
/branch = [surveypage.te]
/recorddata = true
</trial>



*********
Emoticon presentation - Sad
*********

<trial trialsadstart>
/stimulustimes = [500 = cross]
/correctresponse = (" ")
/pretrialpause = 500
/branch = [trial.trialsadface]
/recorddata = false
</trial>

Note: presents a face after correct response
Spacebar advances to time estimation
<trial trialsadface>
/stimulustimes = [1 = whiterectangle]
/ontrialbegin = [trial.trialsadface.insertstimulustime(picture.emoticonss, list.targetdurations.nextvalue)]
/ontrialbegin = [trial.trialsadface.insertstimulustime(shape.whiterectangle, list.targetdurations.currentvalue+400)]
/ontrialend = [trial.trialsadface.setstimulustime(shape.whiterectangle, list.targetdurations.currentvalue)]
/ontrialend = [values.onset = list.targetdurations.currentvalue]
/ontrialend = [trial.trialsadface.resetstimulusframes(100)]
/timeout = (list.targetdurations.currentvalue+1000)
/branch = [surveypage.te]
/recorddata = true
</trial>

<surveypage TE>
/questions = [1 = TE_response]
/showpagenumbers = false
/ontrialend = [values.intervalestimation = slider.te_response.response]
/recorddata = false
</surveypage>


*******************************************************************************************************************
*******************************************************************************************************************
BLOCKS
*******************************************************************************************************************
*******************************************************************************************************************
<block PracticeBlock>
/preinstructions = (consent, welcome, welcome2)
/trials = [1-10 = noreplace(practice)]
</block>


<block TimeEstimation>
/preinstructions = (main)
/postinstructions = (end)
/trials = [1-90 = noreplace(trialhappystart, trialsadstart, trialneutralstart)]
</block>

*******************************************************************************************************************
*******************************************************************************************************************
EXPERIMENT
*******************************************************************************************************************
*******************************************************************************************************************
<expt >
/blocks = [1 = PracticeBlock; 2 = TimeEstimation]
/onexptend = [values.completed = 1]
</expt>

*******************************************************************************************************************
End of File
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