Specs for DML1c
 
**Specs are identical to DML1b expect when written in RED.**
 
Overview
 
This is a very simple study.  There is a subject condition variable but the program is not 
affected by it -- it merely stores it.  All responses are made with the mouse.
 
Assume for now that there will be two text files provided.  One is called MemoryList, and 
will contain 20 words.  The other is called TestList, and will contain 40 words (including 
the 20 from MemoryList) each associated with a code (A, B, and N).  For now, you can 
just make two dummy files, one containing the strings ML1,…,ML20 and the other 
containing the string TL1,…,TL40 with some random permutation of A, B, and N.  
Do not randomize anything: these files will be presented in the same fixed order for every 
subject.  (Sounds crazy, but we have a very good reason for this!)
 
Sample file MemoryList:
ML1
ML2
ML3
…
ML20
 
Sample file TestList:
TL1         A
TL2         B
TL3         N
TL4         B
…
TL40       N
 
Procedure
 
1. Collect subject number, etc. There will be no condition selection. Instead “Brief” will 
be recorded in condition column of the data file. 
 
2. Then show instructions 1 to subject:
 
Instructions 1
 
We are going to have you study a list of words one at a time on the computer.  Later 
you will get a memory test.  Please try to commit each of these words to memory.
 
Some of the words will be very short, common, and easy to remember words.  Some 
of the words will be much less common and will obviously be harder to remember.  
Just do your best to study each word when it appears.  No one can remember all the 
words on the list.
 
*Now present lists of words one at a time, for .5 second each in big letters in 
the center of the screen.  Inter-stimulus interval should be .25 second of 
blank screen. *
 
3. At the completion of this presentation, go on to
 
Instructions 2
 
Now we would like you to play a videogame for a few minutes.
 
*Go to videogame for five minutes.  Do you have some involving and easy 
videogame you can have people play, that doesn't require them to read any 
instructions? *
 
4. Now show Instructions 3:
 
Instructions 3
 
Now the computer will give you a test on the words that you looked at the beginning 
of the experiment.  We will show you a list of 40 words, some of which you saw 
earlier.  If you remember a word, please press "Old".  If you don't think you saw 
the word before, please press "New".   Don't be discouraged if you feel you are 
making mistakes; the items vary greatly in difficulty.
 
*Now present the 40 words in TestList in order.  Put the word up there, and 
give them two button choices to click on, labeled "Old" and "New".  They 
must respond.  Record how long it takes them to respond (mouse RTs are 
not normally terribly reliable but it is better to save this information just in 
case we want to look at it.) *
 
Data Storage
 
Store the following from the Test only, looking roughly like this.  The "Code" is just 
the code associated with the test trial item:
 
Cond       Trial         Word Presented      Response ResponseTime        Code
Brief        1             Fish                        Old                         4420                       A
Brief        2             Chair                      New                       2975                       B
…
etc.