Cognitive Testing on Tablet Computers

 Tablet computers are a good choice for testing where the device does not need to be carried at all times, but good portability is needed. They are particularly suitable for field work where a researcher will administer tests in non-laboratory environments such as pubs, clubs, workplaces or hospital wards. They are also suitable for laboratory work, as the screen size is adequate for a broader range of tests than mobile phones. 

We work with the Android platform for two reasons. Firstly a screen size of 7" is readily available. This combines portability and relatively low cost with a screen that is big enough for all of the tests we work with. In fact many PC tests use only a small area in the middle of the screen, often less than the size of our tablet computer. Secondly Android uses Java, which makes porting tests between platforms straightforward. 

The Android system includes a wide variety of tests with menu selection for the desired task and for duration, parameters etc. This will be available as an off-the-shelf package in 2012. We are already starting to work with partners on this system. Please contact us if you are interested in using the tablet app and would be willing to share data with us.

Click here to contact us about obtaining test systems

 
We have carried out validation work on the Android tablet. Technical validation uses a high-speed video camera to make an external record of stimulus and response events. Response times are calculated from the external record and compared with the internally recorded response times for the individual stimuli. Correlations between the external and internal records are generally very high. An example, from the Little Man test, is shown on the right. The intraclass correlation coefficient in this case was 0.9998, good enough for most purposes!

Technical validation is only one part of the picture. We have developed a validation model that includes within condition and between-condition comparisons as well as the technical aspects. For more details, see the poster presentations from the British Psychological Society Psychobiology Section and the British Association for Psychopharmacology (2011).