Introduction

In self-paced reading tasks, participants need to press a key to read a sentences word for word. There are different ways this can be implemented (Jegersky, 2013).

In this self-paced reading task, participants see one word at the time. Participants need to press the n key to go to the next word. All instructions are on screen.

You can add sentences to the table.

About this implementation

This implementation uses text arrays to split sentences in words and numerical arrays to keep track of reaction times.

Run the demo

Data output file

In PsyToolkit, the data output file is simply a textfile. The save line of the PsyToolkit experiment script determines what is being saved in the data output file. Typically, for each experimental trial, you would have exactly one line in your text file, and each number/word on that line gives you the information you need for your data analysis, such as the condition, response speed, and whether an error was made.

Meaning of the columns in the output datafile. You need this information for your data analysis.

Colum Meaning

1

number of words

2

the sentence used

3

the total reaction time (ms) for all words together

4-n

the reaction times for each word separately

Download

If you have a PsyToolkit account, you can upload the zipfile directly to your PsyToolkit account. Watch a video on how to do that. If you want to upload the zipfile into your PsyToolkit account, make sure the file is not automatically uncompressed (some browsers, especially Mac Safari, by default uncompress zip files). Read here how to easily deal with this.

Further reading

  • Jegersky, J. (2013). Research Methods in Second Language Psycholinguistics. In Research Methods in Second Language Psycholinguistics by Jegerski, J. & VanPatten, B. Routledge: New York. ISBN: 9780203123430. Link to book overview.