Script Author: Katja Borchert, Ph.D. (katjab@millisecond.com), Millisecond
Last Modified: January 26, 2026 by K. Borchert (katjab@millisecond.com), Millisecond
Script Copyright © Millisecond Software, LLC
This script implements a computerized Inquisit version of the WISC Coding Task (PROCESSING SPEED TASK) developed by Amy Finn (Ph.D), John Gabrieli (Ph.D.) and Julia Leonard. Symbols provided by Millisecond.
This script version asks participants to convert symbols into digits using keyboard keys.
Note the script runs with proportional sizing by default. Researchers can select to run the task with an absolute screen size to ensure that distances stay the same across devices. See section Defaults for more info.
Wechsler, D. (1939). The Measurement of Adult Intelligence. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins.
3.5 minutes
Participant are presented with a 2 (row) x 9 (columns) matrix. The first row contains a sequence of digits; the second row contains boxes to be filled with digit-matching symbols.
The task is to translate symbols into digits with the help of a provided key within a 2 min time frame using keys on the keyboard.
The first 4 boxes of the second row contain previously entered digits (from the previous 4 trials); the fifth box is highlighted in purple and awaits the current digit selection. The remaining 4 boxes of the second row are empty (the matching symbols for the next 4 trials can be seen). Once a participant selects the current digit, the digits/symbol move to the left and a new symbol box is added to the right. The result: The highlighted response box always stays in the center of the matrix and the next symbol conveniently 'scrolls' in.
All instruction stimuli are presented under section EDITABLE INSTRUCTIONS.
File Name: digitsymbolsubstitutiontask_testx_summary*.iqdat
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| inquisit.version | Inquisit version number |
| computer.platform | Device platform: win | mac |ios | android |
| computer.touch | 0 = device has no touchscreen capabilities; 1 = device has touchscreen capabilities |
| computer.hasKeyboard | 0 = no external keyboard detected; 1 = external keyboard detected |
| startDate | Date the session was run |
| startTime | Time the session was run |
| subjectId | Participant ID |
| groupId | Group number |
| sessionId | Session number |
| elapsedTime | Session duration in ms |
| completed | 0 = Test was not completed 1 = Test was completed |
| canvasHeightMM | The width of the play area in mm |
| canvasWidthMM | The height of the play area in mm |
| version | The version of the Inquisit Digit Symbol Substitution Task run |
| totalSeconds | Maximum time in seconds allowed for the task |
| correctCount | Total count of correct responses |
| errorCount | Total count of erroroneous responses |
| secondsperCorrect | Average number of seconds per correct response |
File Name: digitsymbolsubstitutiontask_testx_raw*.iqdat
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| build | Inquisit version number |
| computer.platform | Device platform: win | mac |ios | android |
| computer.touch | 0 = device has no touchscreen capabilities; 1 = device has touchscreen capabilities |
| computer.hasKeyboard | 0 = no external keyboard detected; 1 = external keyboard detected |
| date | Date the session was run |
| time | Time the session was run |
| subject | Participant ID |
| group | Group number |
| session | Session number |
| canvasHeightMM | The width of the play area in mm |
| canvasWidthMM | The height of the play area in mm |
| blockcode | The name the current block (built-in Inquisit variable) |
| blocknum | The number of the current block (built-in Inquisit variable) |
| trialcode | The name of the currently recorded trial (built-in Inquisit variable) |
| trialnum | The number of the currently recorded trial (built-in Inquisit variable) trialnum is a built-in Inquisit variable; it counts all trials run even those that do not store data to the data file. |
| version | The version of the Inquisit Digit Symbol Substitution Task run |
| box | Stores the itemnumber of the currently LAST symbol |
| correctAnswer | The correct symbol itemnumber for the current ACTIVE symbol (correct digit) |
| response | Scancode of pressed response key |
| responseText | The actual value of the pressed response key (=selected digit) |
| correct | 1 if given response is correct, 0 if given response is incorrect |
| latency | Time in milliseconds for the current response |
| correctCount | Total count of correct responses |
| errorCount | Total count of erroroneous responses |
The procedure can be adjusted by setting the following parameters.
| Name | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
Color Parameter |
||
| canvasColor | Display color of the actively used portion of the screen (the 'canvas') if set to a color other than the screenColor, you can distinguish the active canvas from the inactive portion of the screen | black |
| screenColor | Color of the screen not used by the canvas ('inactive screen') | black |
| defaultTextColor | Default color of text items | white |
Timing Parameters |
||
| timeLimit | Default duration (120000ms =>2min) for the timed portion of the test in ms | 120000 |
Clock |
||
| showTimer | True = a timer appears in the top right during the test false = no timer is presented | false |