Sound Estimation and Accuracy Task
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
Participants will be assigned to complete computerized estimation tasks for which there is a component of accuracy, such as estimating the duration of sounds. Participants will be told that the task is used as an early diagnostic tool to detect those at risk for a medical condition (e.g., Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease). Instructions will be given to participants telling them that accuracy on the task is associated with the disease, whereas those who are not at risk of the disease tend to either overestimate or underestimate the duration of the sounds. The investigators examine whether such instructions about the purpose and diagnosticity of the tasks biases participants' responses to the tasks, leading them to purposefully be more inaccurate in their estimates.
| Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Detailed Description
Participants will be assigned to complete computerized tasks for which there is a component of accuracy, such as estimating the length, in time, of sounds. Participants will be told that the task is used as an early diagnostic tool to detect those at risk for a medical condition (e.g., Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease). Instructions will be given to participants telling them that accuracy on the task is associated with the disease in question, whereas those who are not at risk of the disease tend to either overestimate or underestimate the duration of the sounds. The investigators examine whether such instructions about the purpose and diagnosticity of the tasks biases participants' responses to the tasks. The investigators collect additional survey measures as statistical controls and potential explanatory variables for variation in the performance on the tasks, and also test whether financial incentives for accuracy on these tasks improve the accuracy of responses to these tasks.
Following the task, all participants will be told that the tasks used are actually NOT diagnostic of the diseases in question, and that deception was used to learn how people respond to instructions about how a task can be used for diagnostic purposes.
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
| Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| Experimental: Overestimate Parkinson's People are told that overestimates on the sound estimation task are associated with being healthy and having a low risk of Parkinson's disease, whereas those who are accurate are more likely to develop the disease later in life. |
Other: Instructions about Overestimates
Participants are told that overestimating the duration of sounds are associated with low disease risk.
Other: Instructions about Parkinson's
Participants are told that the task is about risk of Parkinson's disease.
|
| Experimental: Overestimate Alzheimers People are told that overestimates on the sound estimation task are associated with being healthy and having a low risk of Alzheimers disease, whereas those who are accurate are more likely to develop the disease later in life. |
Other: Instructions about Overestimates
Participants are told that overestimating the duration of sounds are associated with low disease risk.
Other: Instructions about Alzheimers
Participants are told that the task is about risk of Alzheimers disease.
|
| Experimental: Underestimate Parkinson's People are told that underestimates on the sound estimation task are associated with being healthy and having a low risk of Parkinson's disease, whereas those who are accurate are more likely to develop the disease later in life. |
Other: Instructions about Parkinson's
Participants are told that the task is about risk of Parkinson's disease.
Other: Instructions about Underestimates
Participants are told that underestimating the duration of sounds are associated with low disease risk.
|
| Experimental: Underestimate Alzheimers People are told that underestimates on the sound estimation task are associated with being healthy and having a low risk of Alzheimers disease, whereas those who are accurate are more likely to develop the disease later in life. |
Other: Instructions about Underestimates
Participants are told that underestimating the duration of sounds are associated with low disease risk.
Other: Instructions about Alzheimers
Participants are told that the task is about risk of Alzheimers disease.
|
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- Time Estimate [30 minutes]
The estimate of the length of time elapsed during the sound file
Secondary Outcome Measures
- Time Generation [30 minutes]
The length of time selected for the sound file to run by participants in a secondary task
- Perceived Risk of Disease [30 minutes]
Scale question asking participants their perceived risk of having the diseases in the study
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
-
18 or older
-
Able to access tasks on computer
-
Able to hear sounds played on computer
Exclusion Criteria:
- Computer speakers absent or not functioning
Contacts and Locations
Locations
| Site | City | State | Country | Postal Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | United States | 15213 |
Sponsors and Collaborators
- Carnegie Mellon University
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Eric M VanEpps, MS, Carnegie Mellon University
Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Publications
None provided.- HS14-553