Session 1 – Spacing Speed

Materials: A list of 24 multiplication problems (problems.txt). This consists of two numbers, separated by spaces. The first number is two digit, the second number is one digit. E.g., "12 9" means that the problem requires multiplying 12 X 9.

Design and Setup.

Subjects are assigned to one of four subject numbers (1,2,3,4,1,2,…) input by the experimenter.

The 24 problems in Problems.txt are assigned to 2 arrays of 12, called Three and Twelve. If the subject number is 1 or 3, problems 1..12 from problems.txt go in the array Three, and problems 13…24 from problems.txts become the array Twelve. If the subject number is 2 or 4, this is reversed (problems 1…12 becomes Twelve, and problems 13…24 becomes Three.)

Overall Procedure.

Array Twelve is taught in the following way (all in one long run with no breaks):

For x = 1 to 15

Randomize List Twelve

Present all 12 items in this random order

End x

Array Three is taught in the following way:

For x = 1 to 4

Get a random 3 items from the list (without replacement!)

For y = 1 to 15

Randomize the set of 3

Present all 3 items in this random order

End y

End x

Summary: Every item on the list of 24 gets presented to subjects 15 times. The difference is that the machine tests subjects on the Twelve array by running through the whole list 10 times. Whereas it tests subjects on the Three array by taking a subset of 3, and giving 10 tests on that, then taking the next array.

If the subject number is 1 or 2, present List Three first, then List Twelve. If the subject number is 3 or 4, present List Twelve first, then List Three.

Procedure on each trial:

1. Present the problem in the center of the screen in large font (can you make it like 48 font or something?). It should look like this

12 X 9

We are collecting vocal response time. Since we don't have the voice keys working, you can use the computer mike. But please program it to get the RT when they start speaking, not when the program finishes up interpreting their speech!

When the vocal response is detected, the problem should disappear. 1 second later, put up the answer in even bigger letters. If the computer didn't pick up the voice when the subject first spoke, the experimenter can press the left arrow to indicate the malfunction.

84

The experimenter's job is to mark the response right or wrong, using the arrow down and arrow right keys.

Save the following columns <trial, condition (THREE or TWELVE), problem presented, response time, correct or wrong based on experimenter's input>. Please save as an excel file as well as a text file.

Instruction for subjects:

In this study you will be solving multiplication problems, and responding as quickly as you can. Don't worry if you don't like doing multiplication, or feel you aren't good at it. In these days of calculators, most people are not that great at it! However, in this experiment you will get a lot of practice on the same set of problems so it will get easier as we go.

The experiment is divided up into what we call "trials". On each trial, a multiplication problem will appear on the screen. For example, you might see 8 X 18. Please solve this in your head in the traditional way-- by first multiplying the number on the left by the tens place digit on the right (8 X 10 = 80) and then multiplying the number on the left by the ones place digit on the right (8 X 8 = 64), then adding up the two results (80 and 64) in your head to get 144.

As soon as you think you have the right answer, say it aloud. The computer will pick up the fact that you talked, and the answer will pop up on the screen. The experimenter will tell the computer whether your answer was right or wrong, so you don't need to worry about scoring yourself. Everyone makes some mistakes, but please do try to get the problems right as much as you can while working only in your head.

The problems will be tricky at first, but you will get more practice on them and you'll find that the task becomes easier as you go.

Session 2 – Spacing Speed Final Test

This is to be administer 7 days after subjects run through the first session.

The Final Test program is very simple in structure. It tests subjects on all 24 items 8 times. The procedure is just:

Do for x = 1 to 8

Randomize list of 24 facts

Test all 24 in this random order.

end;

The only slightly tricky thing is to store in the data file for each trial whether that item was trained in Condition Three or Condition Twelve for that subject. This depends on the subject's condition number and nothing else. We can't be sure the students will run a given subject on the same computer every time, so the experimenters must re-enter the subject's subject number and condition.

Instruction for subjects:

Today you will be solving multiplication problems again, just like last time. This session will be a little shorter than last time's, however. As before, try to respond as rapidly as you can, but also try to get the right answer.