Web-based experiments controlled by JavaScript: an example from probability learning.

Full Abstract

JavaScript programs can be used to control Web experiments. This technique is illustrated by an experiment that tested the effects of advice on performance in the classic probability-learning paradigm. Previous research reported that people tested via the Web or in the lab tended to match the probabilities of their responses to the probabilities that those responses would be reinforced. The optimal strategy, however, is to consistently choose the more frequent event; probability matching produces suboptimal performance. We investigated manipulations we reasoned should improve performance. A horse race scenario in which participants predicted the winner in each of a series of races between two horses was compared with an abstract scenario used previously. Ten groups of learners received different amounts of advice, including all combinations of (1) explicit instructions concerning the optimal strategy, (2) explicit instructions concerning a monetary sum to maximize, and (3) accurate information concerning the probabilities of events. The results showed minimal effects of horse race versus abstract scenario. Both advice concerning the optimal strategy and probability information contributed significantly to performance in the task. This paper includes a brief tutorial on JavaScript, explaining with simple examples how to assemble a browser-based experiment.

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Author information

Author/s: Birnbaum, Michael H (MH); Wakcher, Sandra V (SV);

Affiliation: Decision Research Center, Department of Psychology H-830M, California State University, Fullerton, P. O. Box 6846, Fullerton, CA 92834-6846, USA. mbirnbaum@fullerton.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

Journal: Behavior research methods, instruments, & computers : a journal of the Psychonomic Society, Inc (Behav Res Methods Instrum Comput), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-May; vol 34 (issue 2) : pp 189-99

Dates: Created 2002/07/11; Completed 2002/07/23; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 12109011, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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