Open-source delay discounting assessment software: Development and usability.

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Behavioral Economics

Background:

• Delay discounting (DD) describes the devaluation of rewards based on waiting time.
• DD is altered in various clinical conditions and developmental stages.
• Existing DD software is often proprietary, English-centric, and difficult to adapt.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop open-source "Waiting Game" software for automated DD assessment with an editable UI.
• To create a comprehensive user guide for the software.
• To evaluate the software's usability and the guide's clarity through expert assessment.

Main Methods:

• Developed "The Waiting Game" using game design principles.
• Software includes three tasks assessing DD with hypothetical/real delays and rewards.
• UI customization and scoring are managed via an Excel spreadsheet.
• Expert usability testing utilized the System Usability Scale and ITC guidelines.

Main Results:

• The "Waiting Game" software was developed with an easily editable UI and automated scoring.
• A comprehensive user guide was created.
• Expert evaluation confirmed the software's suitability and usability, leading to minor UI/guide revisions.

Conclusions:

• "The Waiting Game" provides a valid, free, and automated solution for delay discounting assessment.
• The software facilitates manipulation of rewards and delays across different paradigms.
• It supports diverse sociocultural contexts due to its customizable and accessible nature.