QuickInfo
For scale responses, multiple responses, thought ratings, and online ratings the buttons labels determine what is shown on the buttons. The defaults are the numbers from 1 to 12 indicating what number key or function key can be pressed to select a response. However, if subjects are using a mouse to click on the buttons, then you can label them however you like (e.g., A, B, C, -1, -2, -3 etc.) For online ratings these numbers are typically the numerical labels for the online scale.
Advanced Hints
On scale responses and thought ratings, the default value written to the data file is always the ordinal value of the response option. For example, if the first option is chosen then a 1 is written to the data file—even if the button label read A, -5 or 0. For multiple response items, the default value of a chosen response is always 1, i.e., the option was either chosen or not. For all of these item types you can specify an alternate value for any given response option. This simply saves you from having to recode the data after collecting it. To specify an alternate value, specify it in squiggly brackets after the text label like so:
Note that the value can be text or numeric although numeric is recommended. If you use text, make sure the Write as Text option is checked for the item.
Input via Serial Port
As an alternative to keyboard input, you can receive input from external devices such as response boxes via the serial port. To do so you just need to create a file called "comport.txt" in your experiment folder and copy the following text into it:
comPort, baudRate, parity, dataBit, stopBit
1,19200,n,8,1
input code (1-255), response value (1-12)
1,1
2,2
3,3
4,4
5,5
6,6
You should not modify the first or third line. The second line represents the values of the variables listed on the first line. You can change any of these as necessary. The remaining lines tell MediaLab how to map incoming signals to response keys. On each line you can list a pair where the first value is the signal sent to the serial port (i.e., 1-255) and the second value is the response it should map on to (i.e., 1 to 12). In the example above, if MediaLab detects a "1" coming through the serial port, it will react as though the 1 or F1 key had just been pressed. See also Serial Data
See also
text labels, especially for information regarding the size, format and location of response options and buttons.