e-prime_UsersGuide.pdf

E-Prime

USER'S GUIDE

Walter Schneider*, Amy Eschman and Anthony Zuccolotto

Psychology Software Tools, Inc.

*Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh

With assistance from:

Sara Burgess, Brandon Cernicky, Debbie Gilkey, Jennifer Gliptis,

Valerie Maciejczyk, Brian MacWhinney, Kimberly Rodgers, and James St. James

Preface

The goal of developing the E-Prime suite of applications is to provide a common, standardized,

precise, computer research language for psychology that can be used on today's technologically

advanced computers. The E-Prime suite is designed to allow rapid development of experiments

that can be run with precision on computers around the world. A common computer language

enables researchers in different universities to communicate and share experimental procedures

and data. The system must be flexible enough to allow most psychological research that can be

run on computers to be implemented. It must also provide precision for accurate data analysis,

and even more important, internal auditing to enable the researcher to report the true precision of

the experiment. It is beneficial for the research community to have a dedicated staff of experts

interpreting and harnessing the rapidly changing computer environments to allow precision

experimentation on standard, commercial machines. The E-Prime suite was designed to be able

to be learned rapidly given the constraints of precision and flexibility of experimental procedures.

E-Prime is designed to match the way an experienced investigator structures and organizes an

experimental paradigm. There are now thousands of investigators that use E-Prime for research

on a daily basis to more effectively do high quality computer based experimental research.

Walter Schneider

Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Acknowledgements

The development of E-Prime has involved over twenty person years of effort. Many people have

contributed to the effort that has involved designing, running and testing nearly a million lines of

code. The initial design team included Walter Schneider, Anthony Zuccolotto and Brandon

Cernicky of Psychology Software Tools, Inc. and Jonathan Cohen, Brian MacWhinney and

Jefferson Provost, creators of PsyScope. The lead project manager was Anthony Zuccolotto

until the last year, when Brandon Cernicky assumed that role. The lead programmer and

manager of the project was Brandon Cernicky, who was in charge of all aspects of the Version

1.0 software development effort. Specific project programmers include Anthony Zuccolotto (E-

Run); Caroline Pierce (E-Merge, E-DataAid, E-Recovery); Jefferson Provost (E-Run and internal

factor architecture). The documentation management effort was led by Amy Eschman and

Valerie Maciejczyk. James St. James, Brian MacWhinney, Anthony Zuccolotto, and Walter

Schneider provided editorial assistance and drafted sections of the manual. Copy editing was

headed by Amy Eschman and Valerie Maciejczyk, assisted by Debbie Gilkey, Sara Burgess,

Kimberly Rodgers, Jennifer Gliptis, and Gary Caldwell. Version 1.0 testing involved Brandon

Cernicky, Anthony Zuccolotto, Amy Eschman, Debbie Gilkey, Sara Burgess, Jennifer Gliptis, and

Gary Caldwell. Sample experiments and Help files were created by Debbie Gilkey, Kimberly

Rodgers, Amy Eschman, Sara Burgess, and Brandon Cernicky. During the lengthy Beta

Program, Amy Eschman, Debbie Gilkey, Sara Burgess, Brandon Cernicky, and Anthony

Zuccolotto provided technical consulting and dealt with thousands of beta reports. Government

grant support in the form of SBIR grants from the National Science Foundation (Grant #III-

9261416 and DMI-9405202) and the National Institutes of Health (Grant #1R43 MH5819-01A1

and 2R44mh56819-02) covered significant research on code infrastructure, timing, and precision

testing. Partial support came from grants provided by the Office of Naval Research (Grant

#N0014-96C-0110) and the National Institutes of Health- NIMH (Grant #1R43 MH58504-01 and

2R44 MH58504-02) for research on biological extensions to the system.

Reference to E-Prime in Scientific Publications

It is important to describe the tools used to collect data in scientific reports. We request you cite

this book in your methods section to inform investigators regarding the technical specifications of

E-Prime when used in your research.

Schneider, W., Eschman, A., & Zuccolotto, A. (2002) E-Prime User’s Guide. Pittsburgh:

Psychology Software Tools Inc.

Schneider, W., Eschman, A., & Zuccolotto, A. (2002) E-Prime Reference Guide. Pittsburgh:

Psychology Software Tools Inc.

E-Prime User’s Guide

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 : Introduction ________________________________________________________________ 1

1.1 E-Prime _____________________________________________________________________ 1

1.2 Installation Instructions _______________________________________________________ 1

1.2.1 Machine Requirements for Intel PCs ___________________________________________ 1

1.2.2 Installing ________________________________________________________________ 1

1.3 Installation Options ___________________________________________________________ 2

1.3.1 Full Installation ___________________________________________________________ 2

1.3.2 Subject Station Installation __________________________________________________ 2

1.3.3 Custom Installation ________________________________________________________ 2

1.3.4 Run-Time Only Installation (Run-Time Only CD) ________________________________ 3

1.4 Hardware Key _______________________________________________________________ 3

1.4.1 Single User / Multi-Pack License _____________________________________________ 4

1.4.2 Site License ______________________________________________________________ 4

1.5 What to Know Before Reading This Manual ______________________________________ 4

1.6 Useful Information____________________________________________________________ 4

1.6.1 How to abort an experiment early _____________________________________________ 4

1.6.2 What to do if the hardware key fails ___________________________________________ 4

1.6.3 Locating the serial number___________________________________________________ 4

1.6.4 Sharing pre-developed programs ______________________________________________ 5

1.6.5 Citing E-Prime ____________________________________________________________ 5

1.7 E-Prime for MEL Professional Users_____________________________________________ 5

1.8 E-Prime for PsyScope Users ____________________________________________________ 8

Chapter 2 : Using E-Studio ____________________________________________________________ 11

2.1 Getting Started ______________________________________________________________ 11

2.1.1 Design the experiment in stages______________________________________________ 11

2.2 Stage 1: Conceptualize and Implement the Core Experimental Procedure ____________ 12

2.2.1 Step 1.1: Provide an operational specification of the base experiment ________________ 12

2.2.2 Step 1.2: Create a folder for the experiment and load E-Studio _____________________ 13

2.2.3 Step 1.3: Specify the core experimental design _________________________________ 13

2.2.4 Step 1.4: Specify the core experimental procedure_______________________________ 13

2.2.5 Step 1.5: Set the non-default and varying properties of the trial events _______________ 14

2.2.6 Step 1.6: Specify what data will be logged for analysis ___________________________ 16

2.2.7 Step 1.7: Run and verify the core experiment ___________________________________ 17

2.2.8 Step 1.8: Verify the data logging of the core experiment __________________________ 18

2.3 Performing Stage 1: Implement the Core Experimental Procedure __________________ 18

2.3.1

Perform Step 1.1: Provide an operational specification of the base experiment _________ 19

2.3.2

Perform Step 1.2: Create a folder for the experiment and load E-Studio ______________ 19

2.3.3

Perform Step 1.3: Specify the core experimental design __________________________ 21

2.3.4

Perform Step 1.4: Specify the core experimental procedure ________________________ 22

2.3.5

Perform Step 1.5: Set the non-default and varying properties of the trial events ________ 23

2.3.6

Perform Step 1.6: Specify what data will be logged for analysis ____________________ 24

2.3.7

Perform Step 1.7: Run and verify the core experiment ____________________________ 25

2.3.8

Perform Step 1.8: Verify the data logging of the core experiment ___________________ 27

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E-Prime User’s Guide

Table of Contents

2.4 Stage 2: Elaborate the Trial Procedure _________________________________________ 30

2.4.1 Add Get Ready display ____________________________________________________ 30

2.4.2 Add instructions to Fixation and Probe displays_________________________________ 31

2.4.3 Add Prime ______________________________________________________________ 31

2.4.4 Add Feedback ___________________________________________________________ 33

2.4.5 Run and verify the Get Ready, Prime, and Feedback objects _______________________ 34

2.5 Stage 3: Add All Conditions, Set Number of Trials and Sampling ___________________ 34

2.5.1 Add all conditions________________________________________________________ 34

2.5.2 Set the weights __________________________________________________________ 38

2.5.3 Set the sampling mode and exit condition _____________________________________ 38

2.5.4 Test ___________________________________________________________________ 40

2.6 Stage 4: Add Block Conditions ________________________________________________ 40

2.6.1 Add a block List object ____________________________________________________ 40

2.6.2 Move the DesignList to BlockProc___________________________________________ 41

2.6.3 Add block instructions ____________________________________________________ 42

2.6.4 Add Introduction and Goodbye to SessionProc _________________________________ 42

2.6.5 Modify TrialProc to use PrimeDuration _______________________________________ 43

2.6.6 Special notes: Multiple methods to divide a design between levels __________________ 44

2.7 Stage 5: Add Practice Block __________________________________________________ 49

2.7.1 Duplicate BlockList in the Browser __________________________________________ 50

2.7.2 Add block level attribute PracticeMode _______________________________________ 50

2.7.3 Use script to terminate practice based on accuracy ______________________________ 51

2.8 Stage 6: Special Functions – Setting Timing Modes, and Graceful Abort _____________ 53

2.8.1 Checking timing modes ___________________________________________________ 53

2.8.2 Providing early graceful abort of a block ______________________________________ 54

2.9 Stage 7: Testing the Experiment_______________________________________________ 55

2.9.1 Run experiment to verify correct and error responses ____________________________ 55

2.9.2 Checking scoring and data collection _________________________________________ 55

2.9.3 Checking timing accuracy _________________________________________________ 56

2.9.4 Running pilot subjects ____________________________________________________ 56

2.10 Stage 8: Running the Experiment _____________________________________________ 57

2.10.1 Running subjects_________________________________________________________ 57

2.10.2 Running on multiple machines ______________________________________________ 58

2.11 Stage 9: Basic Data Analysis __________________________________________________ 59

2.11.1 Merging data ____________________________________________________________ 59

2.11.2 Checking data condition accuracy and data quality ______________________________ 61

2.11.3 Analysis and export of data_________________________________________________ 63

2.12 Stage 10: Archiving Experiments and Results ___________________________________ 67

2.12.1 What files to store ________________________________________________________ 67

2.12.2 Saving data in a spreadsheet and EDAT formats ________________________________ 67

2.12.3 Saving results of analyses __________________________________________________ 67

2.13 Stage 11: Research Program Development ______________________________________ 68

2.13.1 Modifying experiments____________________________________________________ 68

2.13.2 Sending experiments to colleagues ___________________________________________ 68

2.13.3 Developing functional libraries______________________________________________ 69

Chapter 3 : Critical timing in E-Prime - Theory and recommendations _________________________ 71

3.1 Executive Summary of E-Prime Timing Precision and Implementation Methods _______ 71

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3.2 Introduction to Timing Issues __________________________________________________ 72

3.2.1 Problem 1: Computer operating systems can falsely report timing data _______________ 75

3.2.2 Problem 2: Actual durations can deviate from intended durations ___________________ 76

3.2.3 Problem 3: Displays are accomplished via refresh cycles__________________________ 79

3.2.4 Problem 4: Accurately measuring and reporting timing, then debugging an experiment __ 83

3.3 Achieving Accurate Timing in E-Prime __________________________________________ 84

3.3.1 Basic timing techniques and implementations in E-Prime__________________________ 84

3.4 Implementing Time Critical Experiments in E-Prime ______________________________ 96

3.4.1 Step 1. Test and tune the experimental computer for research timing _________________ 97

3.4.2 Step 2. Select and implement a paradigm timing model ___________________________ 97

3.4.3 Step 3. Cache stimulus files being loaded from disk to minimize read times __________ 120

3.4.4 Step 4. Test and check the timing data of the paradigm___________________________ 120

Chapter 4 : Using E-Basic ____________________________________________________________ 123

4.1 Why Use E-Basic? __________________________________________________________ 123

4.1.1 Before Beginning… ______________________________________________________ 124

4.1.2 Basic Steps _____________________________________________________________ 126

4.2 Introducing E-Basic _________________________________________________________ 126

4.2.1 Syntax ________________________________________________________________ 127

4.2.2 Getting Help____________________________________________________________ 128

4.2.3 Handling Errors in the Script _______________________________________________ 130

4.3 Communicating with E-Prime Objects _________________________________________ 130

4.3.1 Context________________________________________________________________ 131

4.3.2 Object.Properties ________________________________________________________ 132

4.3.3 Object.Methods _________________________________________________________ 132

4.3.4 Variable Declaration and Initialization _______________________________________ 133

4.3.5 User Script Window vs. InLine Object _______________________________________ 134

4.4 Basic Steps for Writing E-Prime Script _________________________________________ 135

4.4.1 Determine the purpose and placement of the script ______________________________ 135

4.4.2 Create an InLine object and enter the script____________________________________ 135

4.4.3 Determine the scope of variables and attributes_________________________________ 136

4.4.4 Set or reference values in script _____________________________________________ 138

4.4.5 Reference script results from other objects ____________________________________ 139

4.4.6 Debug_________________________________________________________________ 140

4.4.7 Test __________________________________________________________________ 142

4.5 Programming: Basic ________________________________________________________ 142

4.5.1 Logical Operators________________________________________________________ 142

4.5.2 Flow Control ___________________________________________________________ 142

4.5.3 Examples and Exercises___________________________________________________ 148

4.5.4 Additional Information ___________________________________________________ 153

4.6 Programming: Intermediate __________________________________________________ 153

4.6.1 More on Variables _______________________________________________________ 153

4.6.2 Writing Subroutines ______________________________________________________ 155

4.6.3 Writing Functions _______________________________________________________ 156

4.6.4 Additional Information ___________________________________________________ 157

4.7 Programming: Advanced ____________________________________________________ 157

4.7.1

Arrays ________________________________________________________________ 157

4.7.2

Timing ________________________________________________________________ 160

4.7.3

User-Defined Data Types__________________________________________________ 160

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