Sound Estimation and Accuracy Task

May 19, 2015 updated by: Eric VanEpps, Carnegie Mellon University

Estimation and Accuracy in Sound Task Perceived to be Medically Diagnostic

Participants will be assigned to complete computerized estimation tasks for which there is a component of accuracy, such as estimating the duration of sounds. Participants will be told that the task is used as an early diagnostic tool to detect those at risk for a medical condition (e.g., Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease). Instructions will be given to participants telling them that accuracy on the task is associated with the disease, whereas those who are not at risk of the disease tend to either overestimate or underestimate the duration of the sounds. The investigators examine whether such instructions about the purpose and diagnosticity of the tasks biases participants' responses to the tasks, leading them to purposefully be more inaccurate in their estimates.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Participants will be assigned to complete computerized tasks for which there is a component of accuracy, such as estimating the length, in time, of sounds. Participants will be told that the task is used as an early diagnostic tool to detect those at risk for a medical condition (e.g., Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease). Instructions will be given to participants telling them that accuracy on the task is associated with the disease in question, whereas those who are not at risk of the disease tend to either overestimate or underestimate the duration of the sounds. The investigators examine whether such instructions about the purpose and diagnosticity of the tasks biases participants' responses to the tasks. The investigators collect additional survey measures as statistical controls and potential explanatory variables for variation in the performance on the tasks, and also test whether financial incentives for accuracy on these tasks improve the accuracy of responses to these tasks.

Following the task, all participants will be told that the tasks used are actually NOT diagnostic of the diseases in question, and that deception was used to learn how people respond to instructions about how a task can be used for diagnostic purposes.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Anticipated)

600

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Pennsylvania
      • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15213
        • Carnegie Mellon University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 18 or older
  • Able to access tasks on computer
  • Able to hear sounds played on computer

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Computer speakers absent or not functioning

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Screening
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Factorial Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Overestimate Parkinson's
People are told that overestimates on the sound estimation task are associated with being healthy and having a low risk of Parkinson's disease, whereas those who are accurate are more likely to develop the disease later in life.
Other: Instructions about Overestimates
Participants are told that overestimating the duration of sounds are associated with low disease risk.
Other: Instructions about Parkinson's
Participants are told that the task is about risk of Parkinson's disease.
Experimental: Overestimate Alzheimers
People are told that overestimates on the sound estimation task are associated with being healthy and having a low risk of Alzheimers disease, whereas those who are accurate are more likely to develop the disease later in life.
Other: Instructions about Overestimates
Participants are told that overestimating the duration of sounds are associated with low disease risk.
Other: Instructions about Alzheimers
Participants are told that the task is about risk of Alzheimers disease.
Experimental: Underestimate Parkinson's
People are told that underestimates on the sound estimation task are associated with being healthy and having a low risk of Parkinson's disease, whereas those who are accurate are more likely to develop the disease later in life.
Other: Instructions about Parkinson's
Participants are told that the task is about risk of Parkinson's disease.
Other: Instructions about Underestimates
Participants are told that underestimating the duration of sounds are associated with low disease risk.
Experimental: Underestimate Alzheimers
People are told that underestimates on the sound estimation task are associated with being healthy and having a low risk of Alzheimers disease, whereas those who are accurate are more likely to develop the disease later in life.
Other: Instructions about Alzheimers
Participants are told that the task is about risk of Alzheimers disease.
Other: Instructions about Underestimates
Participants are told that underestimating the duration of sounds are associated with low disease risk.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Time Estimate
Time Frame: 30 minutes
The estimate of the length of time elapsed during the sound file
30 minutes

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Time Generation
Time Frame: 30 minutes
The length of time selected for the sound file to run by participants in a secondary task
30 minutes
Perceived Risk of Disease
Time Frame: 30 minutes
Scale question asking participants their perceived risk of having the diseases in the study
30 minutes

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Carnegie Mellon University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Eric M VanEpps, MS, Carnegie Mellon University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

February 1, 2015

Primary Completion (Actual)

May 1, 2015

Study Completion (Actual)

May 1, 2015

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

October 20, 2014

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 20, 2014

First Posted (Estimate)

October 22, 2014

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

May 21, 2015

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 19, 2015

Last Verified

May 1, 2015

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • HS14-553

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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