User`s guide

E-Prime User’s Guide
Chapter 2: Using E-Studio
Page 55
To terminate the BlockList, the same procedure would be used with a BlockList.Terminate
command.
2.9 Stage 7: Testing the Experiment
Note: This section builds on the experiment created during the previous section. A finished version of Stage6-
LexicalDecision001.es is located in the C:\My Experiments\Tutorials\Using E-Studio Stages directory.
Once the experiment is “running” without error, a thorough process of testing must take place to
reduce the threat of problems during data collection that may lead to incomplete or lost data.
2.9.1 Run experiment to verify correct and error
responses
Subjects cannot be expected to respond correctly on every trial, or to respond correctly on any
trial for that matter. The experiment should account for cases in which the subject responds
correctly, responds incorrectly, presses keys that are not valid response keys, or fails to respond
at all.
2.9.2 Checking scoring and data collection
During the process of testing correct and error responses, the scoring process should be verified
as well. The correct feedback should appear for every possible scenario, including correct
responses, incorrect responses, and non-responses. It is a good practice to run through a block
of trials, keeping track with a paper list of what happened during the run, and to verify that the
paper list matches with the data in E-DataAid. Most likely, it is not necessary to run a large
number of trials in order to be convinced that the data is being logged accurately. Five to ten
stimulus-response trials may suffice.
Ø Examine the data file in E-DataAid to verify that the data is logging correctly at all levels
of the experiment.
Ø At the lowest level, the responses and reaction times should be logged and scored
correctly, and should be within the expected range of values.