Dimensional Change Card Sort

Introduction

Executive functions help a person to organise their thoughts. There are slightly different definitions of what executive function is. One well known contempory author on the topic is Sabine Doebel with whom PsyToolkit worked together to create an online version of the Dimensional Change Card Sort task (Doebel, Stucke, & Stoet, 2021). Dr. Doebel is well know for her work on the the study of children’s executive function (Doebel, 2020).

About this implementation

The DCCS is a "card" sorting task. In the task, children see a top card and two bottom cards. They need to match one of the bottom cards to the top card according to different rules in different halves of the experiment. The main aim of the DCCS is to measure how difficult it is to switch from the first to the second task. In adults, a similar cognitive ability can be measured with, for example, the task switching paradigm.

PsyToolkit lists different types of task-switching paradigms. Check it out in the overview of the experiment library.

In this experiment designed for children as young as three years old, there is a lot of material spent on the explanation for the parents and participants.

It starts with an introduction where information is increasingly shown on a screen with underlying audio. This greatly helps young participants who will do this task with their parents.

There are two blocks simply for learning to press the correct keyboard button. There are also practise trials.

Run the demo

In this demo, you will get very detailed instructions. You need a keyboard.

Click here to run a demo

Data output file

In PsyToolkit, the data output file is simply a textfile. The save line of the PsyToolkit experiment script determines what is being saved in the data output file. Typically, for each experimental trial, you would have exactly one line in your text file, and each number/word on that line gives you the information you need for your data analysis, such as the condition, response speed, and whether an error was made.

Meaning of the columns in the output datafile. For each trial (there are 18 training trials and 225 "real" trials), there is one line with 6 numbers (columns).

You need this information for your data analysis.

Colum	Meaning
1	The trial number
2	The name of the block
3	The condition used from the conditions table
4	The reaction time
5	The status (1=correct, 2=wrong, 3=timeout)

PsyToolkit code

Click to expand the PsyToolkit script code (part of zip file below)

## shape first version
## full feedback only in one practise trial
## otherwise no feedback
## fly in to whatever child chooses

## note, I indented "show" lines showing things simultaneously

## total trials: 29:
## intro_shape trial does not require as response but is trial 1
## at least 2 key learning trials
## 1 switch example
## at least 2 task learning trials
## 33 trials

options
  bitmapdir stimuli
  sounddir  stimuli
  set &ALLTODO 36 ## this can increase if training takes more than 2 trials
  set &MAXRT 10000

bitmaps
  i1_1
  i1_2
  i1_3
  i1_4
  i1_5
  i1_6
  instruction1
  red_train      red_train_s.png
  blue_train     blue_train_s.png
  red_star       red_star_s.png
  blue_star      blue_star_s.png
  empty_square
  whopressedkey
  help_when_switching_to_color ### DIFFERENT
  remember_go_fast
  happy
  
fonts
  arial 50

sounds
  instruction1   instruction1.mp3 ## general start instruction
  snd_card_appears snd_card_appears.mp3
  snd_sorted       snd_sorted.mp3
  snd_completion   snd_completion.mp3
  trumpets         trumpets.mp3
  #-----------------------------basic sounds with "can you put it" after it
  #sound_red_long   sound_red.mp3  ### DIFFERENT
  #sound_blue_long  sound_blue.mp3 ### DIFFERENT
  sound_train_long sound_train.mp3
  sound_star_long  sound_star.mp3
  #-----------------------------shorted sound without that
  sound_red      sound_red_short.mp3
  sound_blue     sound_blue_short.mp3
  sound_train    sound_train_short.mp3
  sound_star     sound_star_short.mp3
  #-----------------------------feedback sounds
  feedback_yeah  feedback_yeah.mp3
  feedback_oh_oh feedback_oh_oh_no.mp3
  #-----------------------------full feedback sounds
  good_red       good_red.mp3     
  good_train     good_train.mp3   
  good_star      good_star.mp3
  wrong_red      wrong_red.mp3    
  wrong_train    wrong_train.mp3  
  wrong_star     wrong_star.mp3
  #-----------------------------instruction sounds for starting with color game
  intro_color_game      intro_color_game.mp3
  reminder_color_game   reminder_color_game.mp3
  switch_to_shape_game  switch_to_shape_game.mp3
  #-----------------------------instruction sounds for starting with shape game
  shape_instruction     shape_instruction.mp3
  reminder_shape_game   reminder_shape_game.mp3
  switch_to_color_game  switch_to_color_game.mp3
  #-----------------------------instructions for key learning
  snd_press_a_key        snd_press_a_key.mp3
  snd_good_a_key         snd_good_a_key.mp3
  snd_wrong_a_key	 snd_wrong_a_key.mp3
  snd_press_l_key	 snd_press_l_key.mp3
  snd_good_l_key	 snd_good_l_key.mp3
  snd_wrong_l_key	 snd_wrong_l_key.mp3
  lets_try_another_one   lets_try_another_one.mp3
  #------------------------------other sounds
  snd_for_real           snd_for_real.mp3 ## now we go for real, go as fast as you can
  snd_general_intro      snd_general_intro.mp3 ## at start for caregivers
  # snd_caregiver_end      snd_caregiver_end.mp3 ## ask for keypresses given Y/N

table mytable
  include table_shape_first.txt

table practisetable
  include practise_table_shape.txt

######################################################################
## LEARN A AND L KEYS

table keylearningtable_a
  "a" 1 snd_press_a_key snd_good_a_key snd_wrong_a_key

table keylearningtable_l
  "l" 2 snd_press_l_key snd_good_l_key snd_wrong_l_key

part rest_of_keylearning_task
  ## show text TRIALCOUNT
  ## delay 1000
  ## clear -1
    show background 255 255 255 ## 1
    show progress TRIALCOUNT &ALLTODO
    show bitmap empty_square -200 -150  ## 2
    show bitmap empty_square  200 -150  ## 3
  delay 1000
    clear -1 -2
    show bitmap empty_square  0    150  ## this makes the target stimulus bottom
    set $bA show-counter                ## $bA sets the number of stimulus flying in
    show bitmap empty_square -200 -150  ## 2
    show bitmap empty_square  200 -150  ## 3
  sound @3
  readkey @2 10000
  silence @3
  if STATUS == 1
    set &mysuccesscount increase
    sound @4
    if KEY == 1
      part animation_left
    fi
    if KEY == 2
      part animation_right
    fi
  fi
  if STATUS != 1
    set &ALLTODO increase 2
    set &mysuccesscount 0
    sound @5
    set $tmpW $bA
    part wiggle
    delay 500
  fi
  save TRIALCOUNT BLOCKNAME TABLEROW RT STATUS
  delay 3000
  if &mysuccesscount == 1
    end tasklist
  fi

task keylearning_a
  keys a l
  table keylearningtable_a
  part rest_of_keylearning_task

task keylearning_l
  keys a l
  table keylearningtable_l
  part rest_of_keylearning_task

######################################################################

## R: seq(-200,0,200/6) for 6 steps X-axis
## R: seq(150,-150,300/6) for 6 steps X-axis
## cbind( seq(-200,0,200/6),seq(-150,150,300/6) )

part animation_left   ## lasts 1000 ms
      relocate $bA  -33  100
      delay 200
      relocate $bA  -67  50
      delay 200
      relocate $bA  -100 0
      delay 200
      relocate $bA  -133 -50
      delay 200
      relocate $bA  -167 -100
      delay 200
      clear $bA

part animation_right
      relocate $bA  33  100
      delay 200
      relocate $bA  67  50
      delay 200
      relocate $bA  100 0
      delay 200
      relocate $bA  133 -50
      delay 200
      relocate $bA  167 -100
      delay 200
      clear $bA

part wiggle
    set $tmpwiggle 0
    while $tmpwiggle < 5
      move $tmpW -10 0
      delay 50
      move $tmpW 20 0
      delay 50
      move $tmpW -20 0
      delay 50 
      move $tmpW 20 0
      delay 50
      move $tmpW -10 0
      set $tmpwiggle increase
    while-end

task practisetrial_shape
  keys a l
  table practisetable
  ## show text TRIALCOUNT
  ## delay 1000
  ## clear -1
    show background 255 255 255 ## 1
    show progress TRIALCOUNT &ALLTODO
    show bitmap @2 -200 -150  ## 2
    show bitmap @3  200 -150  ## 3
  delay 1000
  sound @6
  delay 1150
    clear -1 -2
    show bitmap @4  0    150  ## this makes the target stimulus bottom
    set $bA show-counter      ## $bA sets the number of stimulus flying in
    show bitmap @2 -200 -150  ## 2
    show bitmap @3  200 -150  ## 3
  readkey @5 &MAXRT
  silence @6
  if STATUS == CORRECT
    set &my_correct_counter increase
    sound @7
    # animation to left
    if @5 == 1
      part animation_left
    fi
    if @5 == 2
      part animation_right
    fi
  fi
  if STATUS == WRONG
    set &my_correct_counter 0
    set &ALLTODO increase 2
    sound @8
    set $tmpW $bA
    part wiggle
    # animation to left
    if @5 == 1
      part animation_left
    fi
    if @5 == 2
      part animation_right
    fi
  fi
  if STATUS == TIMEOUT
    set &my_correct_counter 0
    set &ALLTODO increase 2
    clear $bA
  fi
  save TRIALCOUNT BLOCKNAME TABLEROW RT STATUS
  if &my_correct_counter < 2
    delay 3000
    sound lets_try_another_one
    delay 2000
  fi
  if &my_correct_counter == 2
    delay 5000
    end tasklist
  fi

task cards
  keys a l
  table mytable
  ## choose trial (this makes trials go from 1 to 24 in order)
  set $tmp &&mytrials remove first
  tablerow $tmp
  ## show text TRIALCOUNT
  ## delay 1000
  ## clear -1
    show background 255 255 255 ## 1
    show progress TRIALCOUNT &ALLTODO
    show bitmap @2 -200 -150  ## 2
    show bitmap @3  200 -150  ## 3
  # if &play_for_real == 1
  #   sound snd_for_real
  #   delay 4680
  #   set &play_for_real 0
  # if
  delay 1000
  sound @6
  delay 1150 ## duration of sound
    clear -1 -2
    show bitmap @4  0    150  ## this makes the target stimulus bottom
    set $bA show-counter      ## $bA sets the number of stimulus flying in
    show bitmap @2 -200 -150  ## 2
    show bitmap @3  200 -150  ## 3
  readkey @5 &MAXRT
  silence @6
  if STATUS != TIMEOUT
    sound snd_sorted
    if KEY == 1
      part animation_left
    fi
    if KEY == 2
      part animation_right
    fi
  fi
  if STATUS == TIMEOUT
    clear $bA
  fi
  save TRIALCOUNT BLOCKNAME TABLEROW RT STATUS

######################################################################
## INTRO TASKS TO LEARN SHAPE OR COLOR TASK

table color_intro_table
  1  red_train  blue_star  blue_train     1   sound_train good_train wrong_train

task intro_shape
  table color_intro_table
  keys a l
    show background 255 255 255 ## 1
    show progress TRIALCOUNT &ALLTODO
    show bitmap @2 -200 -150  ## 2
    show bitmap @3  200 -150  ## 3
  sound shape_instruction
  delay 6460
  set $tmpW 3
  part wiggle ## lasts 1000
  delay 661
  set $tmpW 4
  part wiggle ## lasts 1000
  ###------------------------------- here is a train at 9286
  delay 165
    clear 3 4
    show bitmap blue_train -200 150  ## 4
    set $bA show-counter
    show bitmap @2 -200 -150  ## 5
    show bitmap @3  200 -150  ## 6
  move $bA 40 0
  delay 100
  move $bA 40 0
  delay 100
  move $bA 40 0
  delay 100
  move $bA 40 0
  delay 100
  relocate $bA 0 150
  delay 560
  part animation_left ## lasts 1000
  ###------------------------------- here is a star at 12820
  delay 1500
    clear 5 6
    show bitmap red_star 200 150
    set $bA show-counter
    show bitmap @2 -200 -150  ## 7
    show bitmap @3  200 -150  ## 8
  move $bA -40 0
  delay 100
  move $bA -40 0
  delay 100
  move $bA -40 0
  delay 100
  move $bA -40 0
  delay 100
  relocate $bA 0 150
  delay 560
  part animation_right
  delay 2000

task switch_to_color
  table color_intro_table
    show background 255 255 255 ## 1
    show progress TRIALCOUNT &ALLTODO ## 2
    show bitmap @2 -200 -150  ## 3
    show bitmap @3  200 -150  ## 4
  sound switch_to_color_game
  delay 12806
  set $tmpW 3
  part wiggle ## lasts 1000
  delay 672
  set $tmpW 4
  part wiggle ## lasts 1000
  delay 1066
  set $tmpW 3
  part wiggle ## lasts 1000
  delay 544
  set $tmpW 4
  part wiggle ## lasts 1000
  delay 1000

######################################################################

task who_pressed ## this is just at end for parent Y/N answer
  keys y n
  set $dummy 0
  sound trumpets
  show bitmap whopressedkey
  readkey 1 60000
  sound snd_sorted
  save TRIALCOUNT BLOCKNAME $dummy RT KEY 

task help_when_switching_task ## this is just at end for parent Y/N answer
  keys y n
  set $dummy 0
  show bitmap help_when_switching_to_color
  readkey 1 60000
  sound snd_sorted
  save TRIALCOUNT BLOCKNAME $dummy RT KEY 

task introfilm
  keys n m
  sound instruction1
  show bitmap i1_1
  delay 7351
  show bitmap i1_2
  delay 6051
  show bitmap i1_3
  delay 6723
  show bitmap i1_4
  delay 7455
  show bitmap i1_5
  delay 8320
  show bitmap i1_6
  readkey 1 60000
  silence instruction1
  sound snd_sorted
  if KEY == 1
    end tasklist
  fi

######################################################################

block generalintro
  set &&mytrials range 1 24
  tasklist
    introfilm 10
  end

block intro_learn_keys_a
  set &mysuccesscount 0
  tasklist
     keylearning_a 10 repeat_on_error
  end

block intro_learn_keys_l
  set &mysuccesscount 0
  tasklist
     keylearning_l 10 repeat_on_error
  end

block intro_shape
  tasklist
     intro_shape 1
  end

block practise_block
  tasklist
     practisetrial_shape 10 fixed
  end

block shape_block
  # set &play_for_real 1 this will let cards play the for real sound once
  bitmap remember_go_fast
  sound snd_for_real
  delay 6010
  tasklist
     cards 12
  end

block intro_switch_color
  sound snd_completion
  bitmap happy
  delay 2000
  tasklist
     switch_to_color 1
  end

block colortask
  tasklist
     cards 12
  end

#################################################
### now caregiver needs to press yes or no

block get_caregiver_block1
  tasklist
     who_pressed 1
  end

block get_caregiver_block2
  tasklist
     help_when_switching_task 1
  end

Download

The PsyToolkit code zip file

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Dimensional Change Card Sort

Introduction

About this implementation

Run the demo

Data output file

PsyToolkit code

Download

Further reading