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Psychophysics in a Web browser? Comparing response times collected with JavaScript and Psychophysics Toolbox in a
Joshua R de Leeuw1, Benjamin A Motz2
1Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, 1101 E. 10th Street, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA. jodeleeu@indiana.edu.
Behavior Research Methods
|March 13, 2015
Summary
JavaScript is a suitable tool for behavioral response time experiments, showing comparable reliability to standard laboratory software. While slightly slower, it accurately detects experimental effects in visual search tasks.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Psychological Research Methods
Background:
- Behavioral researchers increasingly use web-based software like JavaScript for response time experiments.
- Previous research on JavaScript's accuracy and reliability is limited, especially compared to standard lab software in psychological studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the performance of JavaScript with Psychophysics Toolbox (PTB) for measuring response time distributions in a visual search experiment.
- To assess the suitability of JavaScript for psychologically relevant experimental manipulations.
Main Methods:
- A visual search experiment was conducted simultaneously using both PTB and JavaScript on separate computers.
- Trials were interleaved between the two systems to isolate the effect of the software.
- Response time distributions were measured and compared between the two software packages.
Main Results:
- Response times measured by JavaScript were approximately 25 ms longer than those measured by PTB.
- No significant difference was found in the variability of response time distributions between JavaScript and PTB.
- Both software packages demonstrated equal sensitivity to experimental manipulations affecting response times.
Conclusions:
- JavaScript is a viable and suitable tool for collecting response time data in behavioral research.
- Despite a slight increase in response times, JavaScript maintains reliability and sensitivity comparable to PTB.
- Web-based software offers a practical alternative for conducting response time experiments.
