Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) [30114]

This article applies to:

E-Prime 3.0

Detail

Experiment Author: Psychology Software Tools, Inc.

The Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) is used to assess processing speed, working memory, visuospatial processing, and attention in particpants.

Abstract

In the test, participants match digit-symbol pairs as fast as possible. Participants are instructed that a digit (e.g., 9) matches a particular symbol (e.g., =). Then, a participant is shown a symbol on the screen and is asked to select the corresponding digit as quickly and accurately as possible. Participants are given 90 seconds to complete as many digit-symbol pairings as possible.

The E-Prime version of this test contains a practice Procedure to help participants get used to pairing digits and symbols. After practice, participants are either presented with a Fixed trial or a Random trial. The Fixed trials have the participants pairing the previously learned digit-symbols from the practice trials. The Random trials present randomly matched digit-symbol pairs (i.e., different pairs from the ones learned in practice). The experimenter can choose to present Fixed or Random trials during the experiment's StartupInfo prompts. 

Total statistics are collected on the total number of trials presented to the participant and the number of trials the participant completed correctly. These statistics are presented on the Goodbye screen. 

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