Hello everybody,
I have programmed a single category IAT using the sample script from milisecond software page : http://www.millisecond.com/download/samples/v3/IAT/SingleTargetIATPictureAndText.zip.
I have a methodical question concerning this Single-Category IAT which came to my mind after making the first data collection trials with subjects. Let me explain:
You know in this SC-IAT there only exist one target-Category. The Stimuli (if they are words) are presented in greencolour font if they belong to the e.g. positive or negative category. These categories (positive and negative) are also presented in green colour font.
Now, in the Normal IAT (with 2 target categories) the target categories are written in a white colour font and also the stimuli which belong in either of these target categories are also written in white just like positive or negative stimuli are written in green.
In the script it says:"The green and white labels and items may help to identify the appropriate category. Use the E and I keys to categorize items into three groups left and right, and correct errors by hitting the other key."
So in the normal IAT the different colours are helpful. But now in the SC-IAT you could make the categorisation of stimuli words from the target category work without reading the actual word because you can categorise it just by its colour (white), due to the fact that one colour belongs only to one category (in this example white is always the target category.
In the Normal IAT that doesnt work because one colour always stands for 2 categories. But in the SC-IAT subjects apply this rule which isnt wanted by the experimenter of course...
Do you understand what I am trying to express? I hope there is an error in my reasoning otherwise my data collection is more or less useless.
Thanks very much...