Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) [30115]

This article applies to:

E-Prime 3.0

Detail

Experiment Author: Psychology Software Tools, Inc.

The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) measures attention, working memory, and visual processing by having participants categorize cards.

Abstract

In the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (Grant and Berg, 1948), participants categorize cards according to different criteria. Cards can be categorized based on the color of the symbols, number of symbols, or the shape of the symbols on the cards. This task measures how well people adapt to changing rules.

The E-Prime version of this task includes practice trials which acclimate the participant on how to sort the cards. After the practice trials, the real trials begin where participants sort 30 trials based on the changing categorization criteria (i.e., color, number, or shape of symbols). The categorization rule changes after 10 cards. The participant needs to adapt to the changing rules of categorization. 

At the conclusion of the task, the number of trials, number of correct responses, and percentage of correct responses is shown. 

The AccuracyCheck InLine logs a "1" if the trial was a perseveration error (otherwise "0"). It also logs a "1" if the trial was not a perseveration error (otherwise "0"). This data can be found in the data (.edat3) file.

NOTE: To run the experiment, ensure that the Resource folder is at the same level as the .es3 file. 

Grant, D. A., & Berg, E. (1948). A behavioral analysis of degree of reinforcement and ease of shifting to new responses in Weigl-type card-sorting problem. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 38, 404-411.