PASAT: time limit? No time limit? Slow time limit?
PASAT: time limit? No time limit? Slow time limit?
TimM suggested a "slow PASAT" variant. I thought I should share a note on tests and timing, simply because it's relevant.
In psychology, tests are said to fall into two categories: speed tests and power tests. Speed tests are like the name: tests with time limits, designed to see how fast you can go, like a sprint. Power tests have no time limit, but can involve more difficult tasks, and see how far you can go, like a marathon.
The current PASAT setup is a speed test; if you don't answer quickly enough, you are marked incorrect. We can make a power test out of it, using PASAT-7! I don't know how useful this would be: perhaps something like a 7+2 digit span task, as you get all the time you need to calculate. The 2 comes from 1 item to keep the number that gets replaced, and 1 for summation. (This is a simplified guess). Maybe it would only be marginally harder than a 9 digit span task. What do you think? Should it be unpaced? Or slowly-paced?
A speed test has an element of stress to it, due to the time pressure, and small amounts of stress are conducive to learning. Cleverly managing the stress level is a useful technique. We will try a test variant based on dynamic timing.
This test will have some novel features to it. Aside of feedback-controlled timing, the stimuli will be presented in 3D, using distance cues to produce a sense of urgency (from a more "realistic" collision based on depth perception). A 3D presentation area also means more information can be fit in the visual field. This is fairly speculative, but it counts as cognitive fun.
In psychology, tests are said to fall into two categories: speed tests and power tests. Speed tests are like the name: tests with time limits, designed to see how fast you can go, like a sprint. Power tests have no time limit, but can involve more difficult tasks, and see how far you can go, like a marathon.
The current PASAT setup is a speed test; if you don't answer quickly enough, you are marked incorrect. We can make a power test out of it, using PASAT-7! I don't know how useful this would be: perhaps something like a 7+2 digit span task, as you get all the time you need to calculate. The 2 comes from 1 item to keep the number that gets replaced, and 1 for summation. (This is a simplified guess). Maybe it would only be marginally harder than a 9 digit span task. What do you think? Should it be unpaced? Or slowly-paced?
A speed test has an element of stress to it, due to the time pressure, and small amounts of stress are conducive to learning. Cleverly managing the stress level is a useful technique. We will try a test variant based on dynamic timing.
This test will have some novel features to it. Aside of feedback-controlled timing, the stimuli will be presented in 3D, using distance cues to produce a sense of urgency (from a more "realistic" collision based on depth perception). A 3D presentation area also means more information can be fit in the visual field. This is fairly speculative, but it counts as cognitive fun.
cognitivefun | 4 years ago
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Now that the PASAT test has been slowed down (as noted in your next blog post), the character of the test has changed quite a bit.
When it was at a fast speed, the PASAT test felt noticeably more "intense" than any of the other tests. The time pressure meant that if you let your concentration wander for the tiniest split second, you are immediately punished and it's difficult to get back on track. The feedback is immediate which makes the test more intense and stressful.
By contrast, if you let your concentration wander for a moment on the n-back test, you are only punished by a weaker score (and very often you will get away with it altogether if the shape does not reappear). The "Slow PASAT" now feels more like the n-back test, with relatively less pressure.
The speed test element of PASAT made it more fun and challenging, at least up to a point (and you note above, a small amount of stress adds to learning). At the higher levels the stress level was going up quickly which is frustrating.
Ideally the pacing would be more finely tuned to the current ability of the player, and the new test you are planning sounds just the ticket. I can't wait to try it!
When it was at a fast speed, the PASAT test felt noticeably more "intense" than any of the other tests. The time pressure meant that if you let your concentration wander for the tiniest split second, you are immediately punished and it's difficult to get back on track. The feedback is immediate which makes the test more intense and stressful.
By contrast, if you let your concentration wander for a moment on the n-back test, you are only punished by a weaker score (and very often you will get away with it altogether if the shape does not reappear). The "Slow PASAT" now feels more like the n-back test, with relatively less pressure.
The speed test element of PASAT made it more fun and challenging, at least up to a point (and you note above, a small amount of stress adds to learning). At the higher levels the stress level was going up quickly which is frustrating.
Ideally the pacing would be more finely tuned to the current ability of the player, and the new test you are planning sounds just the ticket. I can't wait to try it!
TimM | 4 years ago
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