Cognition Laboratory Experiments

John H. Krantz, Hanover College, krantzj@hanover.edu

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Hanover College
Psychology Department

Instructions for the
Digit Span Experiment

Having problems, try the new HTML5 version with improved results reporting.

In this experiment, you can experience one classic method for measuring memory, free recall.  Well, actually a recognition test is being done, but the basic concept is the same, the items may be recalled in any order.  When you click on the link below, you will be presented with the experiment setup screen.  On this screen will be the variables you can set to define your condition.  Here is a list of the variables and their settings

Variable Settings
Duration of each item The time duration which a word/math problem set are presented (1 to 30 seconds)
Time before recognition Delay between the end of the list and the beginning of the recognition test (0 to 1800)
Time for Recognition Time for the recognition task (5 to 120 seconds)
Font Size The size of the letters that are presented (from 12 to 64 point)
Duration of Fixation Target before Block The time there is a fixation marker over the location of the mathematical problem at the beginning of each block (0 to 20 sec)

After you have finished making your settings, press the Done button at the bottom of the screen.  The digit span experiment screen will then be presented.  A start bar will be at the top of the screen at every trial and instructions will be in the center of the screen. 

Press the space bar to begin the experiment.  The numbers will then be displayed one at a time in the position you have selected.  At the end of the list and after the set delay, the words presented with an equal number of distracters will be presented at the top of the screen in buttons.  Click on the buttons of the numbers you recognize in the order they were presented. 

At the end of the experiment your results will be presented.  This is a draft experiment so expect modifications, but they will be coming slowly.

Click here to start the experiment.

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