ECoS: The experiment control system

The experiment control system is a package of computer programs that facilitate the generation and conduct of identification and discrimination experiments using speech and other complex acoustical signals. The system permits microcomputers to be used to control experimental equipment, present signals to listeners, and record and analyze responses, without preparing individual computer programs for each experiment. The package contains three general programs. The GENERATE program is used to define experimental parameters via full‐screen data entry forms. The core of the program is an entry form that allows one to specify four basic parts of an experimental trial: a warning signal, one or more stimulus presentations, the response(s) to be recorded, and any feedback to be provided after the response. Within each of these categories, a number of alternatives are permitted. The CONTROL program applies the parameters and data defined in GENERATE to run the experimental session. Typically, possible responses are displayed using high‐resolution graphics on a computer video screen and subjects respond using a computer mouse. The SCORE program analyzes output from CONTROL and displays the results as response matrices with basic statistics such as means and standard deviations, as well as row and column sums. Output is provided as a screen display and print‐ready file. ECoS is being made available to researchers as part of Version 4.0 of CSRE (the Canadian Speech Research Environment).