recall list data misplaced (case 1747)

[jason_reed]

Hi bstewart,
Could you upload a copy of the data file that shows how this displacement looks?

[bstewart]

Jason,

I've uploaded two different excel files from experiments that use the Thought Listing. In both, the Thought Listing is selected and also record RT, but write as text is not selected. The file called Thought Listing data misplaced has the incorrect placement of the data; this experiment was originally created and run using ML 2008, but then halfway through we upgraded to ML 2012. The data was misplaced when running in both. The file with NC on the end was originally created in ML 2008, but altered and run using ML 2012; there is no data displacement for that entire experiment.

[jason_reed]

Where exactly in the file is the data displacement. The two files have different variables, so it's difficult to compare the two.

[bstewart]

In the "Thought Listing data misplaced" file, the displacement occurs after two of the thougth listing free responses. After CBfreeresponse ... & CBchoose, you will see that the 0 and 1 choices spill into the timing variables (tCBprompt, tCBfreeresponse, etc). This also occurs in the timing variables after the MCfreeresponse.

For the Thought Listing data misplaced-NC file, there is no displacement after for the Recall questionnaire.

[bstewart]

I was reviewing the files that I sent to you and noticed that for the "Thought Listing data misplaced" data set, participants are not told about the escape key, though they are told about it in the "thought listing data misplaced - NC", which contrary to its name did not have data misplaced when using the ML 2012. The main difference between these two experiments (the non-NC one is brand new) is the amount that participants write. In the NC one, Ps write only a few words per thought listing, whereas in the non-NC one, they write much more (often several sentences). Could this be the cause of the data misplacement? In re-examining the data, it appears that some sentences are divided into separate variables.

[jason_reed]

Have you looked at the original text files in a program like Notepad instead of opening them directly in a spreadsheet like Excel? I wonder if the participants used commas in the free response items. Opening such a comma delimited file in Excel could lead to the misplaced data you see in the Thought Listing data misplaced files.

[bstewart]

I have not opened them systematically in Notepad. I looked briefly at some data using Notepad and it "might" solve the problem, but I'd rather not have to import data for each participant manually. In the past, I have tried to use the SPSS syntax file, but have not liked the fact that the Syntax truncates all variable names at 8 characters. Is there another way to systematically import the data without experiencing the comma problem from the free response items?