Test Library » Executive Function » Random Generation Task

Random Generation Task

Executive Function Duration: ~10 minutes
Random Generation Task screenshot

Description

A task measuring executive function where participants attempt to generate random sequences of digits in time with an auditory/visual pacing signal.

Measures: Executive function, inhibition, working memory, random generation ability

Executive Function Processing Speed

About This Test

Participants press number keys (0-9) one at a time, paced by a beep and flashing circle. The goal is to produce a sequence as random as possible. Multiple randomness metrics are computed including RNG score, redundancy, adjacency, turning points, and repetition gaps. These metrics quantify how well participants suppress habitual patterns and maintain random output.

Test Details

Test ID:
randomgeneration
Main File:
randomgeneration.pbl
Parameters:
5 configurable parameters
5 configurable parameters available
Languages:
German English Spanish French Italian Dutch Portuguese

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Scientific Background

Original Task References:

These references describe the original task that this PEBL implementation is based on.

  • Towse, J. N., & Neil, D. (1998). Analyzing human random generation behavior: A review of methods used and a computer program for describing performance. Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, & Computers, 30(4), 583-591.

PEBL-Specific References:

These studies used the PEBL version of this task.

  • Mueller, S. T. (2011). The PEBL Random Generation Task. Computer software retrieved from http://pebl.sf.net/battery.html

Data Output

Trial-by-trial keypresses with timing data. A summary report with multiple randomness metrics is also generated.

Output File:
randomgen-{subnum}.csv
Format:
CSV

Data Columns

Column Name Description
SubNum Participant ID
type Trial type: PRACTICE (initial and hidden practice) or TEST (scored trials)
trial Sequential trial number across all phases
resp The digit pressed (0-9), or -1 if no response before next beep
abstime Absolute timestamp in milliseconds when the beep/flash occurred
rt Response time in milliseconds from beep/flash onset to keypress

Scoring and Interpretation

Key metrics from the summary report: RNG (Evans, 1978): 0=perfectly random, 1=completely predictable. Redundancy: percentage deviation from uniform distribution. NSQ (Guttmann's Null-Score Quotient): percentage of unused digit pairs. Adjacency: percentage of ascending/descending consecutive pairs. TPI (Turning Point Index): 100=expected number of direction changes. Repetition Gap: mean distance between repeated digits.

About This Test

A task measuring executive function where participants attempt to generate random sequences of digits in time with an auditory/visual pacing signal.

Category: Executive Function
Estimated Duration: 10 minutes
Available Translations: 7 languages

Documentation Status: Complete