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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT02271685

Sound Estimation and Accuracy Task

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.

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Key information

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213, United States

About this study

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.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

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

Treatment and study plan

Instructions about Overestimates

Other

Participants are told that overestimating the duration of sounds are associated with low disease risk.

Instructions about Parkinson's

Other

Participants are told that the task is about risk of Parkinson's disease.

Instructions about Underestimates

Other

Participants are told that underestimating the duration of sounds are associated with low disease risk.

Instructions about Alzheimers

Other

Participants are told that the task is about risk of Alzheimers disease.

Primary outcomes

  1. Time Estimate

    Time frame: 30 minutes

    The estimate of the length of time elapsed during the sound file

Secondary outcomes

  1. Time Generation

    Time frame: 30 minutes

    The length of time selected for the sound file to run by participants in a secondary task

  2. Perceived Risk of Disease

    Time frame: 30 minutes

    Scale question asking participants their perceived risk of having the diseases in the study

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Carnegie Mellon University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Estimation and Accuracy in Sound Task Perceived to be Medically Diagnostic

Important dates

Study start
2015
Primary completion
2015
Study completion
2015
First posted
Oct 22, 2014
Registry last updated
May 21, 2015

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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