Core Game Mechanics Flashcards

The Pymetrics Stop Game requires a candidate to press a key when a green circle appears but inhibit their response when a red circle appears. What is the primary objective of this game in terms of measurement?

Answer: To measure response inhibition and impulse control.

The core mechanic of the Stop Game is to successfully follow a rule (press for green) and, more importantly, to override that conditioned response when a 'stop' signal (the red circle) appears. This directly measures a candidate's ability to control their impulses and inhibit a prepotent response.

In the Pymetrics Lengths Game, a candidate is shown two faces and must determine if their mouths are the same or different lengths. A candidate's accuracy improves from 55% to 85% after receiving feedback on each trial. This improvement over time is a key indicator of which trait?

Answer: Learning

The Lengths Game mechanic is designed to see how a candidate adapts their strategy and improves performance based on feedback. A significant increase in accuracy from the beginning to the end of the game demonstrates the ability to learn from experience and adjust behavior accordingly.

A candidate in the Money Exchange Game #1 is given an initial endowment of $10. They choose to send the entire $10 to their partner. Which of the following traits is most directly measured by this specific action of sending the maximum amount?

Answer: Generosity and Trust

Sending a large portion or the entire initial amount to a partner, with no guarantee of how much will be returned, is a direct measure of the candidate's trust in the other party and their inherent generosity.

During the Pymetrics Arrows Game, a candidate's response time is significantly slower, but still correct, on trials with incongruent flanking arrows (e.g., `>><>>`) compared to trials with congruent arrows (e.g., `>>>>>`). How does the Pymetrics algorithm interpret this increase in response time coupled with a correct answer?

Answer: As a successful application of cognitive control to filter distractions.

The slower response time on incongruent trials is an expected and normal cognitive effect. The key measurement is making the correct choice despite the conflicting information from the flanking arrows. This demonstrates successful cognitive control and the ability to focus attention, which is a positive indicator.

A candidate is playing the Pymetrics Balloons game. They consistently pump each balloon only two or three times before clicking 'Collect', accumulating a small but steady amount of money and never having a balloon pop. This behavior is most indicative of which trait?

Answer: Risk Aversion

This strategy prioritizes the certainty of small gains over the possibility of larger gains that come with the risk of loss (the balloon popping). This consistent, cautious approach is a classic indicator of risk aversion.

Which Pymetrics game mechanic is specifically designed to assess a candidate's willingness to expend physical effort to benefit another person versus benefiting themselves?

Answer: Completing a series of rapid key-presses to earn money for a partner or for oneself.

The Money Exchange Game #2 is designed to measure altruism by directly comparing a candidate's willingness to perform an effortful task (rapid key-presses) when the reward goes to a partner versus when it goes to themselves. The other options describe Money Exchange Game #1 or the Easy/Hard Task game.