Psychophysics for Behavior

Overseen By Tahra Eissa

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Colorado, Boulder

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

1000 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial examines decision-making over different time frames using an engaging task with jars and balls. Participants will identify the current jar in use and predict the next one. The study employs psychophysics to explore decision strategies at both short and long timescales. It suits U.S.-based adults who enjoy puzzles, have a strong Prolific record, and speak fluent English. Participants can earn about $10 an hour. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique chance to contribute to scientific understanding while enjoying a challenging and rewarding experience.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that this method is safe for participants?

Research has shown that psychophysics, the study of perception, lacks specific safety data for its use in behavioral tasks. However, psychophysics is not a medical treatment and poses no health risks. It involves measuring responses to tasks, such as recognizing patterns or making choices based on sensory input.

In this study, participants determine which jar is used based on the balls drawn from it. This type of task is generally safe, as it involves no physical procedures or risks. It focuses on understanding thought processes and decision-making.

The trial is labeled "not applicable" in terms of phase, indicating no need for safety testing as required for new drugs or treatments. Participants typically join voluntarily, often receiving compensation, and engage in simple decision-making activities known to be safe. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the "Psychophysics for Behavior" trial because it explores how environmental features can influence human behavior in new and measurable ways. Unlike traditional methods that might focus on medication or therapy to change behavior, this approach looks at how altering our surroundings can directly impact our actions and perceptions. By understanding these dynamics, scientists hope to develop non-invasive, cost-effective strategies for behavior modification, potentially revolutionizing how we approach mental health and behavioral issues.

What evidence suggests that this psychophysics method is effective for understanding decision strategies?

Research has shown that psychophysics helps in understanding how people sense and react to various stimuli. It examines how the brain makes choices based on visual or auditory input. Studies have found that understanding these reactions can lead to better experiment design and clearer interpretation of results. Psychophysics also explores the impact of stress on mental health, demonstrating its broad insights. This method tracks decision-making over time, aiding in the study of behavior. While it does not directly treat conditions, it provides valuable information on how the mind processes information. Participants in this trial will engage in the Environmental Feature Experiment to explore these aspects of psychophysics. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Tahra Eissa

Principal Investigator

University of Colorado, Boulder

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults in the US who use Prolific, have a high approval rating (95%), and score at least 80% on a pre-test. Participants should speak fluent English.

Inclusion Criteria

Adult Prolific participants who have a 95% approval rating and achieve a minimum score of 80% on our pre-test

Participants must speak fluent English

Participants must be in the US

Exclusion Criteria

Not applicable.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1 week

Task Performance

Participants perform the Jar Switching Task involving short-term, long-term, and multi-timescale inference tasks

30 minutes per session

1 session (online)

Data Analysis

Behavioral data from participants is analyzed using Bayesian statistical methods

2 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for any additional feedback or data collection post-task

1 week

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Psychophysics

Trial Overview

The study tests how people make decisions using an online Jar Switching Task. It measures short-term, long-term, and multi-timescale inference by asking participants to identify patterns in which jar is being used to draw balls over several trials.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Environmental Feature Experiment Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Colorado, Boulder

Lead Sponsor

Trials

128

Recruited

29,600+

University of Pennsylvania

Collaborator

Trials

2,118

Recruited

45,270,000+

University of Houston

Collaborator

Trials

155

Recruited

48,600+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Visualizing adverse events in clinical trials using methods like dot plots and volcano plots can enhance communication about the severity, timing, and recurrence of harms, rather than just counting occurrences.

The study analyzed individual participant data from a randomized trial of gabapentin for neuropathic pain, demonstrating that effective visualizations can help stakeholders better understand the multidimensional nature of harms in clinical research.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Comparing the Value of Data Visualization Methods for Communicating Harms in Clinical Trials. Qureshi, R., Chen, X., Goerg, C., et al.[2022]

The comprehensive body system review (BSR) in the Safety Monitoring Uniform Report Form (SMURF) identified 129 additional adverse events (AEs) in pediatric patients, significantly more than the 48 AEs from the general inquiry and 16 from the drug-specific inquiry, highlighting its effectiveness in capturing important safety data.

Parents found the detailed BSR acceptable and satisfactory, while clinicians did not share the same level of acceptance, indicating a potential gap in the perceived utility of detailed adverse event reporting methods in pediatric psychopharmacology.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Comparison of increasingly detailed elicitation methods for the assessment of adverse events in pediatric psychopharmacology. Greenhill, LL., Vitiello, B., Fisher, P., et al.[2007]

Systematic client feedback, such as the Partners for Change Outcome Management System (PCOMS), can improve psychotherapy outcomes by addressing issues like client dropouts and varying therapist effectiveness, as supported by randomized clinical trials.

PCOMS not only provides psychometric measures but also emphasizes the importance of client perspectives in therapy, potentially shifting the focus from a purely medical model to a more relational and scientific approach in psychotherapy practice.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Partners for Change Outcome Management System (PCOMS) revisiting the client's frame of reference. Duncan, BL., Reese, RJ.[2019]

The web-based adverse event tracking system (eAETS) has effectively supported 175 clinical protocols over four years, capturing 2,440 adverse event reports, including minor symptoms that could indicate serious issues.

Out of the reported AEs, 1,053 did not align with the initial risk profiles, leading to corrective recommendations in 13% of the protocols, highlighting the system's role in enhancing subject safety by identifying unanticipated patterns.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The impact of minor adverse event tracking on subject safety: a web-based system. Shenvi, NV., Gebhart, SS.[2009]

Using outcome measures in psychotherapy can significantly improve treatment results, especially for patients who are likely to struggle with negative outcomes.

A meta-analysis indicates that monitoring patient feedback and providing clinicians with decision-making tools can enhance treatment effectiveness for those showing early signs of treatment failure.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Outcome measures for practice. Whipple, JL., Lambert, MJ.[2015]

In the ICON8 ovarian cancer clinical trial, 51,019 adverse events were reported, but only 61% of serious adverse events were matched to existing adverse events, indicating a significant gap in safety reporting.

Re-analyzing safety data by including serious adverse events increased the detection of grade 3 or worse safety events, highlighting the importance of comprehensive safety data collection for accurate risk assessment in clinical trials.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Overlap between adverse events (AEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs): a case study of a phase III cancer clinical trial. James, EC., Dunn, D., Cook, AD., et al.[2021]

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