Instructions
You must use the Mozilla Firefox web browser.
This HIT consists of many subtasks, and you must complete every subtask to submit the form.
This task tests your ability to discriminate handwritten characters from writing systems around the world. For example in
the Latin alphabet A, B, C, and D are different characters. In each subtask, you will see pairs of character images, and
no two images are exactly the same. Importantly, your task is not to judge whether the two images are literally
the same, but rather whether they are images of the same type of character (for example,
and
)
or instead of two different types of characters (for example,
and
).
If the two images contain the same type of
character, mark "Yes, they are the same." Otherwise, if they contain different types of characters, mark "No, they are
different. The exact characters you will see should be new to you, so make your best guess.
You will see a sequence of 200 subtasks each requiring a response. Each subtask has the following structure:
- A red square appears in the left box "Example Image" to cue your attention.
- Shortly after the cue, an example character is quickly flashed in that red square.
- After the flash, the character disappears and is replaced by a nonsense scribble image.
- Then a test character appears in the "Test Image" box to the right.
- Indicate whether the example character and test character are the same or different.
Please respond as quickly as possible.
After every few characters, a progress bar appears to show you your accuracy so far. If you fail to see the example character before it disappears, you may click "I wasn't looking at my computer screen."
Please note:
-
You must complete every subtask to submit the form. (The questions at the end, however, are optional.)
- If you somehow manage to submit the form without completing every subtask, your submission will be rejected.
- So long as you complete every subtask, and you make an effort to answer the questions correctly, your submission will be accepted regardless of how many you get correct.
Disclaimer
By answering the following questions, you are participating in a study being performed by cognitive scientists in the MIT Department of Brain and Cognitive Science. If you have questions about this research, please contact Josh Tenenbaum at jbt AT mit DOT edu. Your participation in this research is voluntary. You may decline to answer any or all of the following questions by clicking the 'Return HIT' button at the top of this page. by clicking the 'Back' button at the top of your browser. (Alternatively, you may click here.) You may decline further participation, at any time, without adverse consequences. Your anonymity is assured; the researchers who have requested your participation will not receive any personal information about you.
If you are interested in learning more about this research, please visit //jgross.scripts.mit.edu/alphabets/ (this link will open in a new window or tab, so you do not need to worry about losing your submisison).