Computerize IOWA Gambling Task (IGT) on OpenSesame

Tanvi

Hello all,

For my master's, I'm conducting an experiment which measures the effects of mental fatigue on Decision Making. To test decision making, I'd like to use the Iowa Gambling Task. How can I go about computerizing this?

Any help/suggestion would be heavily appreciated. Thank you!!

Fab

Hi @Tanvi,

Your request is too general to offer specific advice. Here some general advice:

• Familiarize Yourself with OpenSesame: If you're new to OpenSesame, I recommend starting by exploring the basics. There are plenty of tutorials available on the OpenSesame documentation site and on YouTube. This will help you get a sense of how the interface works. Like any programming environment, Open Sesame will take you some time to learn. Depending on how complex you need your task to be, the programming may be relatively simple (once you've taken the time to learn the basics of Open Sesame) or more complex (requiring hard coding in Python or in Javascript).
• Stimulus Presentation: You'll need to present four card decks to participants. You can create these decks using image or text elements in OpenSesame.
• Event Handling: You'll need to set up event handling so that when a participant selects a deck, the program records their choice and provides feedback (e.g., winning or losing a certain amount of money).
• Outcome Feedback: Implement a variable system to manage the outcomes for each deck, as each deck in IGT has a different reward/punishment structure.
• Trial Loop: Use a loop to repeat the task over multiple trials, recording the participant's choices and outcomes each time.
• Practice and Iterate: Once you have a basic version set up, run some practice trials to make sure everything works as expected. It’s common to go through several iterations before everything runs smoothly.
• Data Collection: OpenSesame makes it relatively easy to record data, but make sure to plan out exactly what you want to capture (e.g., deck choice, reaction time, winnings, etc.).

Good luck!

Fabrice.