Setting the minimum duration limit on scale responses (case 25522)

Hi Jason,

I was wondering if there is a way that we can specify min-max time limit on a media lab file like DirectRT(e.g. 0 - 6000!). I know that we can set the maximum amount of time allocated for a scale response using the d parameter but I can't figure out a way to prevent participants from moving on before certain amount of time has passed. It seems like if a response is made, the screen moves onto the next automatically. Is there a way that we can prevent participants from moving on before n-seconds have passed? In other words, participants can respond to the scale questionnaire during the 5 seconds they are given (and their response will be recorded whenever they respond) but they have to wait full five seconds before moving onto the next phase. I tried splitting it up by presenting the stimuli for 5 full seconds and presenting the scale questionnaire right after, but it just doesn't look as neat and I would much prefer to have the whole process in a single presentation.

Please let me know if you have any insights as to how to tackle this problem. I wanted to use Direct RT since it has the nice " 0 - n-seconds! " feature that prevents participants from moving on, but I need the texts to be different colors + the Media lab's scale response feature works well with what I'm trying to do (except the timing).

Thank you always for your help!!

Hi mkclairhong!

There is no built-in feature of MediaLab to delay the progression of the scale item type for a particular amount of time after a response; the scale item type will move on to the next available item type once a response is made.

It is possible to create a scale item in DirectRT; you would need to build it from scratch. Take a look at the modern racism example file that comes with DirectRT for an example:
[url]www.empirisoft.com/directrt/help/directrt_samples_assessing_modern_racism.htm[/url]

Aha-- thanks for letting me know and thank you always for your help, Jason!

You're welcome!