Cognitive Tests
As of June 2020, an expansion by Mads Vedel Saaby Christensen, and Simon Strandly Brandt has been added to Research Package, featuring a range of cognitive tests. The tests can be seen below.
About the cognitive tests
The tests in Research Package are called ActivitySteps. They derive from Apple’s ResearchKit’s Active Tasks, but where transformed to Steps instead, so that they may be used inside a RPTask along with other types of Steps.
Each test consists of 3 key sections - the instructions for the test, the test itself and the results of the test. Results are not interpreted and draws no conclusions as these are elements of the usecase, which may vary considerably.
Examples of all tests
| Reaction Time | Trail Making | Letter Tapping |
|---|---|---|
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| Paired Associates Learning | Tapping Speed | Corsi Block Tapping |
|---|---|---|
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| Stroop Effect | Rapid Visual Information Processing | |
|---|---|---|
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Tests
Here you find information about the cognitive areas each test covers, as well as all the customisation options for each test.
Corsi Block Tapping Test
Testing Area:
The Corsi Block Tapping Test covers and assesses spatial processing, visual processing and working memory.
Optional Parameters:
| Parameter | description |
|---|---|
| includeInstructions | If false then instructions are not shown. true as default. |
| includeResults | If false then results are not shown. true as default. |
Logged Information:
- Times of each stage (Start and end of Instruction, Task, Result)
- Correctly repeating the highlighted tiles - correct gesture, log number of attempts and the tapped order.
- Failing to repeat highlighted tiles first time - incorrect gesture, log the incorrect input and the correct order.
- Failing test by tapping wrong order of tiles second time - incorrect gesture, log the incorrect user input and the correct order.
Letter A Tapping Test
Testing Area:
The Letter A Tapping Test covers and assesses auditory processing and sustained attention.
Optional Parameters:
| Parameter | description |
|---|---|
| includeInstructions | If false then instructions are not shown. true as default. |
| includeResults | If false then results are not shown. true as default. |
Logged Information:
- Times of each stage (Start and end of Instruction, Task, Result)
- Tapping button at letter “a” - correct gesture, log letter list, marking the correct “a”.
- Tapping with delay at letter “a” - correct gesture, log letter list, marking the correct “a”.
- Tapping multiple times at letter “a” - correct gesture, log letter list, marking the correct “a”.
- No Button tap at an “a” - incorrect gesture, log letter list, marking the missed “a”.
- Tapping at a wrong letter - incorrect gesture, log letter list, marking the incorrectly tapped letter.
Paired Associates Learning Test
Testing Area:
The Paired Associates Learning Test covers and assesses working memory and visual processing.
Optional Parameters:
| Parameter | description |
|---|---|
| includeInstructions | If false then instructions are not shown. true as default. |
| includeResults | If false then results are not shown. true as default. |
| maxTestDuration | Maximum duration of the test. 100 secounds as default |
Logged Information:
- Times of each stage (Start and end of Instruction, Task, Result)
- Tapping tile matching middle object - correct gesture, log current difficulty and the tapped tile.
- Tapping tile not matching middle object - incorrect gesture, log current difficulty and the tapped tile.
Rapid Visual Information Processing Test
Testing Area:
The Rapid Visual Information Processing Test covers and assesses sustained attention, processing speed, working memory and visual processing.
Optional Parameters:
| Parameter | description |
|---|---|
| includeInstructions | If false then instructions are not shown. true as default. |
| includeResults | If false then results are not shown. true as default. |
| interval | Highest number to choose. E.g. 5 is (0 - 5). 9 as default |
| lenghtOfTest | Duration of test. 90 seconds as default |
| sequence | Sequence of numbers that the testee must keep track of |
Logged Information:
- Times of each stage (Start and end of Instruction, Task, Result)
- Tapping button after sequence appeared - correct gesture, log amount of sequences passed, delay time on tap and the total sequence of numbers displayed.
- Tapping when sequence has not appeared - incorrect gesture, log amount of sequences passed and the total sequence of numbers displayed.
Reaction Time Test
Testing Area:
The Reaction Time Test covers and assesses psycho-motor speed, processing speed, visual processing and sustained attention.
Optional Parameters:
| Parameter | description |
|---|---|
| includeInstructions | If false then instructions are not shown. true as default. |
| includeResults | If false then results are not shown. true as default. |
| lengthOfTest | Duration of test. 30 seconds as default. |
| switchInterval | Max seconds passed before triggerering the reaction (switch to green). 4 as default. |
Logged Information:
- Times of each stage (Start and end of Instruction, Task, Result)
- Tapping screen when green - correct gesture, log amount of time passed since screen turned green.
- Tapping screen when red - incorrect gesture, log that the screen was pressed prematurely.
Stroop Effect Test
Testing Area:
The Stroop Effect Test covers and assesses visual processing, processing speed and selective attention.
Optional Parameters:
| Parameter | description |
|---|---|
| includeInstructions | If false then instructions are not shown. true as default. |
| includeResults | If false then results are not shown. true as default. |
| lenghtOfTest | Duration of test. 30 seconds as default. |
| displayTime | Amount of time each word is displayed in milliseconds. 1000ms as default. |
| delayTime | Amount of time between words in milliseconds. 750ms as default. |
Logged Information:
- Times of each stage (Start and end of Instruction, Task, Result)
- Tapping correct color word - correct gesture, log the color of the displayed word and what it spelled, along with total amount of words displayed.
- Tapping incorrect color word - incorrect gesture, log the tapped color, what color should have been tapped, what the displayed word spelled and the total amount of words displayed.
- No color word tapped in time - incorrect gesture, log what the word spelled, its color and total amount of words passed.
Finger Tapping Test
Testing Area:
The Finger Tapping Test covers and assesses sensory-motor skills.
Optional Parameters:
| Parameter | description |
|---|---|
| includeInstructions | If false then instructions are not shown. true as default. |
| includeResults | If false then results are not shown. true as default. |
| lenghtOfTest | Duration of test. 30 seconds as default. |
Logged Information:
- Times of each stage (Start and end of Instruction, Task, Result)
- Tapping a button - correct gesture, log if left or right button was tapped.
Trail Making Test
Testing Area:
The Trail Making Test covers and assesses spatial processing, logic / reasoning and visual processing.
Optional Parameters:
| Parameter | description |
|---|---|
| includeInstructions | If false then instructions are not shown. true as default. |
| includeResults | If false then results are not shown. true as default. |
| trailType | TrailType.A shows only numbers, while TrailType.B interchanges between numbers and letters. TrailType.A as default. |
Logged Information:
- Times of each stage (Start and end of Instruction, Task, Result)
- Correctly draw a path between two blocks - correct gesture, log start and end block of drawing.
- Start drawing from correct block to a wrong one - incorrect gesture, log which block was incorrectly hit and what the correct one was.
- Drawing a path which has wrong starting point - incorrect gesture, log which block should have been the starting point.
- Drawing a path which has wrong end point - incorrect gesture, log which block would have been the correct end point.
Implementing your own test
To implement a test, only two classes must be created - a model for the test and the UI of the test. As an example a test will be created along the way.
- Create a model that follows the RP name scheme - this could be RPLineDrawingActivity.
- Give it a constructor with ID
- Optionally: include variables of your own.
includeInstructionsandincludeResultscan also be used.
- Create the UI with the body of the test in a Widget - this could be RPUILineDrawingActivityBody.
- In the widget constructor 3 things are recommended: - The activity model to include any variables you may use. - The
RPActivityEventLoggerto log any additional information of interactions by the user. E.g. “User pressed button too many times. Pressed 8 times.” - AnonResultChangefunction to send the result to be stored. - In the build function create the UI however you see fit. We recommend implementing Instructions, Test and Result UI’s.
- In the widget constructor 3 things are recommended: - The activity model to include any variables you may use. - The
- In
RPUIActivityStepadd your new test as a case in thestepBodyfunction.
Done! You have now created your own test (or activity).
Gesture Logging
Each RPUI-Activity is equipped with an RPActivityGestureLogger, which tracks a select, key events during a test. Above, in the “Tests” section you can see all additional information logged for each test. The RPActivityGestureLogger has functions to store interactions such as addCorrectGesture and functions to store section changes in the test - e.g. Going from Instruction to Test section. See the examples in “Tests” for inspiration about what to log.
Limitations
FormStep is not applicable with cognitive tests as they required the full screen to work optimally. Currently, this will cause errors at runtime.
RPNavigableOrderedTask does not currently function with the cognitive tests.