A Microcomputer-Based Laboratory: Real-World Experience

Behavior Research Methods & Instrumentation 1981, Vol. 13 (2), 209-212 SESSION X GENERAL STRATEGIES IN LABORATORY COMPUTING: A SYMPOSIUM Howard L. Kaplan, Presider A microcomputer-based laboratory: Real-world experience

H. JOHN DURRETT, JR., and CATHERINE ZWIENER Centerfor Automated SystemsinEducation, Southwest Texas State University SanMarcos, Texas 78666

This paper discusses current hardware and software in use at the Center for Automated Systems in Education, a project of the department of psychology at Southwest Texas State University. The hardware ranges from inexpensive microcomputers to sophisticated color graphic display systems. The advantages and disadvantages of various systems are considered. Current projects of interest to educators and psychologists are mentioned.

"Why is any psychologist concerned with using a ever, there are several other salient reasons for a psychol computer?" This is a reasonable question, for when one ogist to invest time in learning to use computers for begins to move away from one's area of expertise, it research and instruction. Some of the more apparent its likely that many diversions that dissipate energy, reasons are that the computer will allow experimental waste time, and retard professional goals will be designs and controls that are not currently possible encountered. This is especially true when one begins to by any other means. Computers can execute tasks such explore and use computers in psychological research or as real-time simulations and models that simply cannot instruction. Computers by their very nature require enor be done using the printed page or the chalkboard. mous amounts of time for one to learn to use them pro Furthermore, there is the potential for the computer to ductively. In addition, computers are usually surrounded actually increase the productivity of both the researcher by a high priesthood of experienced users with whom educator and the student. the psychologist must interact and communicate. Finally, There are, however, serious disadvantages to using there are problems of change, as in any complex environ computers. Until very recently, they were expensive, ment, that cause many projects to be delayed, to be had little software available for instructional purposes, modified, or to become obsolete. and were of such limited capabilities that they could not Perhaps the first answer to the question of why a be justified for use throughout the entire curriculum. psychologist should be concerned with using a computer Further, much professional time had to be invested in comes from the dramatic theoretical changes that have acquiring and using computers, with little or no pos taken place in the field of psychology. There are few sibility of professional recognition. who can seriously doubt the impact of the "information For all of these problems, however, the more serious processing approach" to studying human cognitive issue to be resolved is "How is the computer to be used processes and behavior. The underlying foundation for in instruction and research?" For many psychologists, this orientation owes much to current theoretical this is the more troublesome problem. Without answer perspectives about the organization, processes, capabili ing this question, the psychologist is like the student ties, and limitations of modern digital computers. How- who is eager to collect data but has not quite decided how the data will be used. Many of the articles that This material is based upon work supported by the National regularly appear in BehaviorResearch Methods & Instru Science Foundation under Grants 13987 and 8000893. Any mentation can assist the novice in making wise decisions opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations in developing a computer-based psychology labora expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not tory. Many members of the National Conference On the necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Founda tion. For reprints contact John Durrett, Center for Automated Use of On-Line Computers in Psychology can also assist Systems in Education, Southwest Texas State University, San the beginner. This article illustrates how computers are Marcos, Texas 78666. being used in one typical psychology department.

THECENTER FOR AUTOMATED We have used these low-cost machines for teaching SYSTEMS IN EDUCAnON BASIC to students in a course on the applications of computers to research and instruction in psychology. Let us now consider some basic hardware and soft The computers have been used to control video output ware that are being used in the Department of Psy to a large-screen television monitor for group viewing. chology's Center for Automated Systems in Education The computers have been used to control slide projectors (CASE) at Southwest Texas State University. In and to process responses from button boxes and voice June 1979, the department established CASE to explore activated relays. The "jiffy" (l/60-sec) timers have and develop the computer hardware, software, and been used for student projects on short-term memory, courseware resources necessary to support research and long-term memory, and reaction time measurement. instruction in psychology. CASE was also intended to (There are ways to increase the accuracy of timing. serve as a model of instructional computer usage for For elaboration of the techniques for use of such devices other departments at the university. From a modest as tachistoscopes, see Reed, 1979.) beginning, CASE has had an expanding research and We have acquired or developed programs to perform development role in the department and university. statistical tests and analyses. These machines have been used for advertising our department at College Day and Timesharing-BasedComputing for an information management system for depart CASE's first research and instruction efforts were mental courses and equipment. We have constructed an with a device known as the Polytronics "universal analogue-to-digital interface for these microcomputers response time" (URT)! that was used in conjunction and have used them to process data from physiological with a CRT terminal connected to the central campus recording and biofeedback equipment. computer, a Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) 10. Finally, the microcomputers have been portable The device allows reaction time measures of response enough for faculty members to move to their offices to using timesharing terminal. The computer terminal was "really get some work done." Actually, the portability used for our implementation of a set of computer and fixed capabilities have special appeal, since faculty programs written by Bewley {l974V The programs members can be certain that a system programming were used to teach cognitive and experimental psy staff will not change the operating system overnight and chology to undergraduate students. This initial use of make their programming efforts obsolete. computer-based curriculum packages met with modest For about $1,500, these machines are certainly good success. Students were able to complete laboratory investments for any psychology department interested assignments and gain some hands-on experience in in using computers. We currently have four micro psychological experimentation. The inexpensive URT computers of this type. Cassette tapes and disks are device allows a psychologist to explore computer-based used for external memory, and a special PET 2022 instruction and research using existing timesharing printer is used for output. The PET, TRS-80, and computers with minimal investment in hardware and Apple II are the durable ''workhorse'' computers in our software development. (See Durrett, 1974, for pro laboratory. We are not overly concerned about where gramming techniques that can be used with such devices.) they are located, since they are so resistant to mis handling. Inexpensive Microcomputers These initial experiments provided the motivation New Opportunities for Research to develop a computer facility for use in the department Wehave also used the Compucolor 11.6 This 32K RAM of psychology. Our first departmental computer was a microcomputer has an eight-color display and an integral Commodore PET 2001 3 that served as a general-purpose disk unit. Like almost all of the inexpensive micro system for experimental and instructional needs. This computers, these computers arrive with many game computer, along with the Radio Shack TRS-804 and packages. At first, we were concerned about the number the Apple II,S is finding its way into many psychology of hours our students played games on the computers, departments. In addition to having the high-level but we have now decided to study game playing and language BASIC, the PET 2001, like these other micro problem solving behavior using these packages. Further, computers, has a very powerful hardware interface the ease and, in some cases, difficulty in using these system. The chief advantages of such machines are computers has led to a new research program in the their low cost, portability, reliability, ease of program department directed toward the study of the human ming, and flexibility. Limitations include limited storage factors associated with the use of computers for instruc devices, fixed capabilities, and low speed. With addi tional purposes. The game packages have offered a new tional hardware, some of these problems can be mini avenue for research in the area of problem solving using mized or eliminated. (See Durrett, 1978, for more complex visual displays. In the games, an individual is information on inexpensive microcomputers such as confronted with a problem solving situation and a the PET 2001 and TRS-80; or see Durrett, 1979, for process control display representing various conditions. information on the Apple II microcomputer.) We are currently exploring human information process- MICRO-BASED LAB 211 ing associated with these complex visual displays. faces allow the processing of information from and The advantage of a system such as the Compucolor II transmission of information to specialized devices. The is its high capabilities at minimum cost. Two major computer can be shared by as many as four terminals disadvantages are the limited software available for this under multiuser BASIC. The ability to present graphics machine and problems of reliability in the video circuit from the video display over standard video monitors section of the microcomputer. We recommend compari and the ability to videotape-record such output are son with an Apple II with similar features. The Apple II added advantages of the TERAK. relies on a conventional television monitor for output. (See Durrett, 1979, for more information on color Specialized Input/Output Devices display systems.) Other hardware that provides additional capabilities for the laboratory is a Houston Instruments HI-PAD Advanced Microcomputers and Their Application digitizer and HI-PLOT plotter. These devices allow The most powerful hardware we are using for research students to enter complex graphic stimuli, such as and instruction is the Chromatics CG 1599 color graph maps, into the computer. Students then are able to ics microcomputer system." This device has allowed us study the information processing associated with visual to begin a major research program on the cognitive graphics under carefully timed and controlled condi processes associated with comprehension and under tions. The plotter also serves as a valuable stimulus standing of complex visual graphics. The Chromatics creation device as well as an instructional tool. A student allows the presentation of high-resolution graphics in written program allows the plotter to serve as a general 256 different colors at real-time speeds. A special clock purpose hard-copy graphic output device (Durrett & and blanking circuitry makes it an excellent general Liberty, Note I). Graphics can be used to illustrate purpose cognitive research instrument. Further, it can papers and make transparencies and slides. (See Durrett, drive several color monitors and process input from 1980, for more information on application of plotters several response stations. A current research project is and digitizers.) studying the human information processing associated with the instructional use of colors (Durrett & Zwiener, CONCLUSION 1981). Also, we have had art students exploring the creative possibilities of color video display systems. Although we are just beginning to utilize computers The advantages of the Chromatics are its extensive in classroom instruction and research, we are fmding capabilities, high reliability, programming flexibility, many new areas for instructional application and new extensive software and firmware, color graphics, disk avenues of research that are made possible by the use storage, and a user-modifiable operating system. One of micro- and minicomputers. Furthermore, the avail disadvantage is its moderately high cost, resident pro ability of low-cost computer hardware has changed the gramming language, and 32K RAM limited memory. way we think about and conduct psychological research. The computers have made an inactive faculty become Minicomputers for Instruction and Research more involved in research. Further, student interest in The newest additions to our laboratory are the computers has been increased by their practical use and TERAK 851O/a LSI-II-based minicomputers.P These ease of access. The future of many psychology depart machines have been used to implement a new cognition ment programs may one day depend on the power of and perception package written by Levy, Fisher, and computing. Griggs (1979). The TERAK has graphic capabilities that allow us to present to subjects graphic stimuli that REFERENCE NOTE would not be possible with other computer display devices. The TERAK also has user-definable character 1. Durrett, H. J., Jr., & Liberty, L. A BASIC software package sets. Although it has a moderately high cost ($6,000), for inexpensive plotters. Manuscript in preparation, 1981. features such as multiuser BASIC, PASCAL, and REFERENCES FORTRAN make its cost comparable to that of low-cost microcomputers on a per-user-station basis. BEWLEY, W. Cognitive psychology: A computer-based approach. One of the best features of the TERAK is a word Wentworth, N.H: COM Press, 1974. processing program that is a part of the PASCAL lan DURRETT, H. J., JR. A multiprogram approach to real-time experimentation. Behavior Research Methods «I Instrumenta guage editor. This program was an immediate success tion, 1974,6,259-262. with staff, faculty, and students. Many have been DURRETT, H. J., JR. Inexpensive microcomputer systems for writing laboratory reports and letters using the editor research and instruction: A dream or reality? Behavior Research and a Diablo hard-copy printer." The TERAK costs Methods «IInstrumentation, 1978, 10, 345-351. half as much as compatible word processing systems DURRETT, H. J., JR. Color display systems: The state of the art. Behavior Research Methods «I Instrumentation, 1979, 11, and is capable of many of the operations performed by 127-130. such machines. Special parallel, serial, and video inter- DURRETT, H. J., JR. Inexpensive plotters and digitizers for 212 DURRETT AND ZWIENER

research and instruction. Behavior Research Methods & Instru 2. These programs are available from CONDUIT, P.O. mentation, 1980,12,244-247. Box 388, Iowa City, Iowa 52240. DURRETI, H. J., JR., & ZWIENER, C. A. Human information 3. Commodore Corporation, 901 California Avenue, Palo Alto, processing and color displays. PrOCftdings of Southcon/81, California 94304; (415) 3264000. 1981, SeuIOD 11,1-7. 4. Radio Shack, Inc., 700 One Tandy Center, Fort Worth, LEVY, M., FISHER, I. S., & GRIGGS, R. A. Laboratory in cog Texas 76102. nition and perception. Iowa City, Iowa: CONDUIT, 1979. 5. Apple Corporation, 10260 Bandley Drive, Cupertino, REED, A. Microcomputer display timing: Problems and solutions. California 95014; (408) 996-1010. Behavior Research Methods & Instrumentation, 1979, 11, 6. Compucolor, 5965 Peachtree Corners East, Norcross, 572-576. Georgia 30071; (404) 449·5961. 7. Chromatics, 2558 Mountain Industrial Blvd., Tucker, Georgia 85260; (404)493-7000. NOTES 8. Terak, 14151 N. 76th Street, Scottsdale, Arizona 85260; (602) 9984800. 1. Polytronics, Methodist Hill, Lebanon, New Hampshire 9. Diablo Systems, Inc., 24500 Industrial Blvd., Haywood, 03766. California 94545; (415) 786-5000.