The SPCT: research

The Subtle Priming Computer Task

The Subtle Priming Computer Task (SPCT; Doron, Sar-El & Mikulicer, 2012) is a method of priming sensitivities in particular self-domains such as morality, relationships and appearance. This is done by asking participant to match the size and position of graphical elements to a given model as quickly and accurately as they can. The model, however, contains either threatening or non-threatening information relating to a specific self-domain. The program allows the experimenter to assess individuals' performance during the task (e.g., measuring time of task completion, number of mouse clicks, number of presses on the check button etc.,) and following the task (e.g., the completion of questionnaires or another task following the completion of the SPCT).

In the SPCT, participants are asked to re-position 6 objects (5 textboxes and an arrow) such that their location and properties (thickness, width, and length) would be identical to a graph presented on the left half of the screen (see Figure below). The objects on the left half of the screen are identical to the objects on the right half of the screen, but they have different properties and are all initially positioned at the bottom-left of the graph. Participants are than asked to complete the graphic task as quickly and accurately as possible.

During the task, participants can be exposed to threatening (low scores) or non-threating (e.g., having above average scores) information to a theory driven self-domain (e.g., morality in OCD; see figure) and theory irrelevant self-domain (e.g., sports in OCD). Information relating to task performance is automatically recorded (e.g., time of task completion). The SPCT can also be used as a subtle priming procedure. An example of the later was done in a recent study by Doron et al., (2012). In this study participants were randomly divided into four conditions. The negative morality and negative sport conditions consisted of a bell-shaped curve indicating a below-average score (marked as the 17^th percentile) and three colored textboxes with the words “low level,” ”high level,” and “You are here.” These textboxes were positioned so that the participant’s low score was emphasized. In the morality condition, the words “your morality level” below the graph indicated that the graph described a participant’s morality level. In a textbox on the right side of the graph, a comment indicated that “This graph shows your level of morality.” In this way, participants re-positioned a graph that depicted them as scoring low on morality. In the sport conditions, the word “morality” was replaced with “fitness”. In the two additional conditions (the positive morality and positive sport conditions), participants received a graph depicting an above-average score (marked in the 83^th percentile) within a normal curve distribution. The 6 objects of the graph were positioned to emphasize the high score of the participant either the morality or sport domain.

Following the computerized task, participants read five hypothetical scenarios about actual physical contamination concerns and answered two questions assessing urge to act ("To what extent do you feel an urge to do something about your concerns in this situation?") and the likelihood of acting ("How likely are you to take action to prevent negative consequences from occurring?"). The findings of this study showed that suggestions of incompetence in the morality self-domain led to heightened OC-related behavioral tendencies. These effects were specific to self-relevant (versus other-relevant), negative (versus positive) information about the morality domain (versus a morality irrelevant domain). Findings were not related to pre-existing variations in self-esteem, stress, anxiety, or depression, and were not explained by mood fluctuations (Doron et al., 2012).

The SPTC program is user friendly and allows for several experimental variations

1) Training time (yes/no, length in seconds)

2) Task preview (i.e., exposure of the model that has to be reached prior to task; yes/no; length in seconds)

3) Instructions (text insert prior to training/preview and task)

4) Check button (yes/no)

5) Reset button (yes/no)

6) Retries (no. of times)

For other feature and instructions see "read me" file. Researchers interested in the program can contact Dr Guy Doron on gdoron@idc.ac.il.

THE PROGRAM IS FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY. UNDER PERMISSION FROM DR GUY DORON.

Research, concept and direction: Guy Doron: gdoron@idc.ac.il

Design and developement: Gur Ilany gurilany@gmail.com

COPYRIGHT 2011-2012. All Rights Resreved.