Insert prior responses into subsequent question wording

[pspicer]

Hi,

I've been able to insert previous responses into questions within the questionnaire with no trouble, but I can't figure out if there is a way to use the responses as stimulus in a Direct RT file. Specifically, I want to use the words they type as primes. I tried typing the variable (<variable>, in this case <Name1>) into the stim column of direct RT, but that didn't seem to work at all. Is there a way I can get just the word written to a text file, and then use that text file as the stimulus? I know there's the data file, but it looks like all IDs write to the same file.

Thanks for any help, and let me know if there's any other information that would helpful.

[jarvis24]

jenjordan75,

I think I found the problem. Essay data are different than other data--you can't insert them using the variable name as you can a fill in the blank or scale item response. However, you CAN insert variables that are recorded to a responses.xls file (see Advanced Features). Problem with this is that Essay data again, are not written to the responses.xls file. They are written to their own separate data file and so you'll get the same "ok" in the responses.xls file that you do in your other data files.

SO... the answer? Using a custom item. I've drafted one here based on your attached sample. It's basically an HTML file that provides a text box just like an essay (you can adjust the size by editing the essay.htm file in a text editor like notepad.

Then I simply added a responses.xls file to track the "letter" variable and then go on to insert it as you had done so previously. Try out this simplified revised sample and see if it accomplishes what you need. If not, please let me know!

[jarvis24]

pspicer,

Great idea, but no, as yet there is not a way for DirectRT to read values from a responses.xls file that is active in MediaLab.

[jenjordan75]

I will test out your example and let you know if it accomplishes what I had in mind.

Any chance that future versions of media lab will allow users to "feed back" essay responses to participants?

[jarvis24]

jenjordan75,

Definitely should be added. Just a matter of priority right now. For most any other item type it would be a simple fix. However, essay data are written to their external files and then released immediately from memory (that's why you simply see "ok" written to the primary data files). Should mention that you could also do this with a fill in the blank quite easily as you can make it multi line just like an essay. Only limitation though is I think fitb's are limited to 255 characters.