Four-Choice Serial Response Time

Processing Speed Duration: ~4 minutes
Four-Choice Serial Response Time screenshot

System Requirements

🖥️
Screen Size:
Minimum: 800×600
Recommended: 1024×768
⌨️
Keyboard required
🔊
Audio recommended

Description

A four-choice serial reaction time task from the UTC test battery (Wilkinson & Houghton, 1975). A plus sign appears in one of four screen quadrants, and participants press the corresponding key as quickly as possible. Optional auditory feedback for lapses.

Test Details

Test ID:
fourchoice
Main File:
fourchoice.pbl
Parameters:
8 configurable parameters
Languages:
German English Spanish French Italian Dutch Portuguese

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Scientific Background

Original Task References:

These references describe the original task that this PEBL implementation is based on.

  • Wilkinson, R. T., & Houghton, D. (1975). Portable four-choice reaction time test with magnetic tape memory. Behavior Research Methods & Instrumentation, 7(5), 441-446.
  • Perez, W. A., Masline, P. J., Ramsey, E. G., & Urban, K. E. (1984). Unified Tri-Services Cognitive Performance Assessment Battery: Review and methodology (DTIC Document ADA181697).

Data Output

Creates two data files: (1) fourchoice-<subnum>.csv with trial-level data including subnum, response type, inter-stimulus interval, trial number, sound enabled, response key, target quadrant, left/right location, up/down location, response quadrant, correctness, lapse flag, and reaction time; (2) fourchoice-summary-<subnum>.txt with accuracy statistics, mean reaction time, and breakdown by correctness with median, mean, and standard deviation of reaction times.

Example Data

subnumresptypeisitrialsoundrespquadleftrightupdownrespquadcorrlapsert
oeau22001113leftbottom31095
oeau22002152righttop210910
oeau22003124rightbottom410507
oeau22004113leftbottom310398
oeau22005124rightbottom410435
oeau22006152righttop210511
oeau22007152righttop210466
oeau22008141lefttop110402
oeau22009152righttop210396

View full file (51 rows) →

Sample data showing typical output format. Actual values will vary by participant.

About This Test

A four-choice serial reaction time task from the UTC test battery (Wilkinson & Houghton, 1975). A plus sign appears in one of four screen quadrants, and participants press the corresponding key as quickly as possible. Optional auditory feedback for lapses.

Category: Processing Speed
Estimated Duration: 4 minutes
Available Translations: 7 languages

Documentation Sources:
Test implementation, Parameter schema

Documentation Status: Standard