[open] Option generation (after video) on a picture via mouse-tracking and evaluation of options

LisaMu

Dear OpenSesame-experts,

I am currently working on my phd project in sport psychology and want to program a paradigm where children/adolescents can generate options by marking/"drawing" them via touch (on a windows table, probably 8'').
[we are interested in how young soccer players learn to make fast and accurate decisions: how many options they generate for a scene, how fast and how they evaluate the options afterwards]

Unfortunately, I am quite new to programming and a little nervous or unsure whether I will be able to do it.
I have a few questions related to mouse-tracking and reaction time etc.:

• Is it possible to "collect" more than one track of the mouse (up to 6 let's say) on one single picture and record the track/position and reaction times? [we need this because there might be different options to solve a soccer situations which the players are asked to generate]
• Is it possible to then, according to the number of options the individual player has generated, ask the player to indicate on a Likert-Scale how good they think every option is and whether they are able to play it?

In order to give you a genreal idea, I have attached an image of how we have tested kids in a pilot: We asked them to dra their options and then rate them afterwards. As we are very interested in how fast they do it, we need reaction times and therefore need OpenSesame.
I would be very thankful if anyone has hints on how to deal with this (for me ) challenge.

Thanks a lot already,
Lisa

http://img.cogsci.nl/?q=5593d830d51d4

eduard

Hi Lisa,

That sounds like a fun project.

Is it possible to "collect" more than one track of the mouse (up to 6 let's say) on one single picture and record the track/position and reaction times?

Yes! In general, you can collect as many responses and reaction times as you want. Depending on their complexity (e.g. reference events) it can be more or less straightforward to program it. In your case, in which you want to allow multiple decisions, that is reactions, it's probably best to implement the response collection inside an inline_script (rather than using OpenSesame items).
In essence, will look like this:

# import packages if needed and prepare keyboard

from canvas.openexp import mouse
myMouse = mouse(exp)

# 1) set the start time: When did the stimulus appear?
t0 = self.time()

# 2) Enter a `while` loop to continuously wait for input
# This includes following steps:
  # Waiting for input
  # if there is input compute RT 
  # log everything (RTs, coordinates of response or whatever element it corresponds to)
  # Have a condition, which allows you to break the while loop. 
  # This can be a key combination that allows your subjects to start the next
  # trial.

while True:
    button, position, timestamp = my_mouse.get_click(timeout=20)

    if button == 'certain click combination':
        break
    elif button != None:
        RT = t0-timestamp
        exp.set('RT',RT)
        exp.set('position',position)
        # .... set other variables that are important 
        exp.log("stuff you want to log"

# This code won't work the way it is right now. It is just meant to give you pointers
# of  how to tackle the problem. 

Note that the logging of multiple values per trial can be a bit tricky. It probably will be best, if you use only the direct way of logging (exp.log()), instead of using it in combination with logger item.

ask the player to indicate on a Likert-Scale how good they think every option is and whether they are able to play it?

This is also possible, even in multiple ways. If you want to leave the stimulus on the screen, while your subjects indicate the likelihood of every option, it might get a bit messy, however, if you remove it, they have to remember the order of all their options. So, I guess you have to see what works best.
If you go for the options to show the questionnaire later on (after the stimulus disappears), it is easiest, if you create a simple "infinite" loop of questionnaires with OpenSesame forms. Here you do the same trick as with the while loop. As soon as some click combination was pressed, you break the loop and go on with the rest of your experiment. (Maybe you can even create an "exit" button directly in the form)

I hope this helped. Just give it a shot, and lot us know if you got stuck.

Good luck,

Eduard