Hello supreme beings,
in our work group, weencountered a rather peculiar problem. I’ll try my best to explain the complexsituation.
We programmed aseveral experiments that were combined in a batch file. Part of this batch weredifferent kinds of surveys that should be shown in different conditions. Seethe batch file in the following:
<batch>
/subjects = (1 of 8)
/file ="161206Exp5_Consentform_RB.iqx"
/file = "161103Exp5_ Priming AGE_RB.iqx"
/file = "161205Exp5_ EC_OWposYMneg_RB.iqx"
/file = "161208Exp5_ Explizite Abfrage_OWYM_RB.iqx"
/file = "161206Exp5_AMP_V3_RL.iqx"
/file = "161209Exp5_ Fragebögen_OWYM_RB.iqx"
/file ="161206Exp5_End_RB.iqx"
/ groupassignment =subjectnumber
</batch>
…In a similar way the part above repeats forsubjects 2, 3, & 4. Only, the priming condition and the EC conditionchange. What stays the same is the before last file:
"161209 Exp5_ Fragebögen_OWYM_RB.iqx".
In the next 4 conditions (5, 6, 7, & 8),this file is changed into:
"161209 Exp5_ Fragebögen_OMYW_RB.iqx", see below:
<batch>
/subjects = (8 of 8)
/file ="161206Exp5_Consentform_RB.iqx"
/file = "161103Exp5_ Priming GENDER_ RB.iqx"
/file = "161205Exp5_ EC_OMnegYWpos_RB.iqx"
/file = "161208Exp5_ Explizite Abfrage_OMYW_RB.iqx"
/file = "161206Exp5_AMP_V3_RL.iqx"
/file = "161209Exp5_ Fragebögen_OMYW_RB.iqx"
/file ="161206Exp5_End_RB.iqx"
/ groupassignment =subjectnumber
</batch>
I checked bothexperimental files: "161209 Exp5_ Fragebögen_OWYM_RB.iqx"and "161209 Exp5_ Fragebögen_OMYW_RB.iqx", and both contain thecorrect set of variables. Therefore, subject numbers 1-4 should view and answeronly items of "161209 Exp5_Fragebögen_OWYM_RB.iqx", while subjects 5-8 shouldview and answer only items of "161209Exp5_ Fragebögen_OMYW_RB.iqx".
The data, however,look very different. First of all, I get one file for both experiments, althoughthat is not the case in the other experimental parts that are not surveys. Butthat is probably normal and wouldn’t be a problem in itself. Second, suddenlyin the data subject 7 for example has provided answers for the items of "161209Exp5_ Fragebögen_OWYM_RB.iqx" which she shouldn’t have seen, also there isno data for the items of "161209 Exp5_ Fragebögen_OMYW_RB.iqx",although subject 7 should have viewed and answered only those. Altogether,there are only 28 (of 210) subjects that seem to have provided answers to theitems of "161209 Exp5_ Fragebögen_OMYW_RB.iqx", while all othersubjects seem to have answered the items of: "161209 Exp5_Fragebögen_OWYM_RB.iqx". This seems quite unsystematic and I do notunderstand how that could have happened.
Below, I have posted ascreenshot (cut together, because it was too long J). You can see subjects 1-8. All except 2 and 6have provided answers to CA_OW3 for example, although only subjects 1-4 shouldhave been able to answer that item…
My questions: howcould this happen? Did the subjects really end up in the wrong conditions andwhy is that so? Or are the answers to the items simply saved under the wrongvariable name?
I know, it is acomplex problem, but I am at a loss here and would be grateful for your help!
Thanx,
M.