Course 203C Micro Experimental Laboratory (MEL)

Overview

The Micro Experimental Laboratory (MEL) is an integrated software system supporting experimental research with human subjects. The Department of Cognitive Sciences has 7 copies of MEL which will are available to undergraduates and graduate students running experiments. MEL runs on IBM PC computers and supports a variety of graphics boards and response devices.

Users of MEL create, run and analyze a variety of reaction time, questionnaire, and text comprehension experiments primarily by filling in forms. Using MEL makes the resulting experiments more reliable by eliminating many of the pitfalls associated with timing and the generation of graphics and auditory stimuli. One advantage of MEL is the support it provides for randomizing and balancing stimuli across blocks of trials, subjects, and groups of subjects.

This course will provide a complete introduction to the use of MEL. To a limited extent it will also cover design, methodological, and data analysis issues related to the use of MEL. The course is intended for students who plan to use computers to run experiments: graduate students and advanced undergraduates--e.g. students doing experiments in 111/112 or the honors program. Although useful, no specific background in computers is required. Enrollment will be strictly limited to 25.

Textbook

The readings for this course will come from

1. Schneider, W. (1990). MEL User's Guide: Computer techniques for real-time psychological experimentation. Pittsburgh, PA: Psychology Software Tools.
2. Schneider, W. (1988). Micro Experimental Laboratory Language Reference Manual. Pittsburgh, PA: Psychology Software Tools.

Copies of both manuals will be available through the instructor for a combined price of $55.

Major Assignments

In addition to the small assignments listed in the syllabus, each student will be responsible for two more substantial assigments. One assignment will be to modify an existing experiment according to specifications that will be handed out. The second assignment will involve the student specifying an experimental protocol and then implementing it as a MEL program from scratch.

Syllabus

Week 1

Reading

None.

Assignment:

None.

Topics covered in Class

• Overview of the of what MEL is and can do
• Example of programming with forms
• An introduction to the DOS file system

Week 2

Reading:

• UG Chapter 1, Sect. 1.5-1.7 (p. 7-16)
• Frames Tutorial
• UG Chapter 2, (p. 17-40). The EXP, TRIAL, and INSERT tutorials may prove useful.

Assignment:

Create the simple experiment and its modifications as described in the readings.

Topics covered in Class

• Identifying errors from the error messages.
• Display options: exploring their implications

Week 3

Reading:

UG Chapter 3, (p. 41-64)

IP Assignment:

Exercises 1-5 on page 63. Save Exercise #4 until last and bring your results to class.

Topics covered in Class

• Review of INSERTs, data storage, use of BLOCKS, structuring displays
• Designing one of our own: A latent inhibition experiment
• How to read the language reference

Week 4

Reading:

• Do the GRAPHICS tutorial and the OWFONT demo
• UG Chapter 5, Section 1-5, 7-9 (p. 91-126, 133-146)
• LR Section 2.6.2 (p. 53-59) and 2.7.3.2 (p. 70-71)

Assignment:

• Exercises 3 and 4, p. 98
• Exercises 1 and 2, p 112

Topics covered in Class

• Using the Analyze program
• Reading the Language Reference

Week 5

Reading

• UG Chapter 8 (p. 291-312)
• LR Sections 2.3, 2.8, 2.9.1-2.9.4, 2.12, 2.13, 2.15, 7

Assignment

• Do the CODOW demo (try to run through this before reading Chapter 8)
• Do the CODE tutor (preferably after reading chapter 8)

Topics covered in Class

• Coding examples

Week 6

Reading

UG Chapter 5, Section 10 (p.147-154)

Assignment

• Exercise #2, p. 154
• Write a one page description of the experiment you plan to implement for your class project.

Topics covered in Class

• Two approaches to modifying b_probe
• Looking at code in a real experiment with all the bells and whistles: periph.

Week 7

Reading

None

Assignment

Change B_PROBE to

• Eliminate all non-essential responses by the subject during a trial
• Eliminate feedback on correct trial and consolidate error feedback
• Provide end-of-block summaries of performance

Topics covered in Class

Week 8

Reading

• UG Chapter 5, Sections 12-16 (p. 163-192)
• LR Sections 2.5.4, 2.16, 3, and 4

Assignment

Topics covered in Class

Week 9

Reading

UG Chapter 6, Sections 1-9 (p. 201-248)

Assignment

None

Topics covered in Class

Week 10

Reading

• UG Chapter 6, Sections 10-11 (p. 249-268)
• UG Chapter 7 (p. 269-289)

Assignment

Topics covered in Class

Week 11

Reading

UG Chapter 10 (p. 339 - 366)

Assignment

Topics covered in Class

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