Comprehensive Affect
Testing System
- Task Overviews -

  • Three Faces Task

Three faces are shown at a time, each representing two people of the same sex. The task is to identify which pair of faces expresses the same emotion. The response is made by clicking on a face or by pressing keys 1, 2, and 3. The user can change a response by clicking again on a previously-selected face to de-select it. When the user is satisfied with the two choices made, the DONE button must be clicked to advance to the next trial.

 

NOTE: In all of the subtests, the user can alter their responses as often as needed. Only the last response made before the DONE button is clicked is scored.

  • Identity Matching

Two portraits of individuals expressing a neutral mood are shown. The task is to indicate whether the portraits represent the same or different individuals. 

  • Affect Matching

One picture is shown at the top of the screen and 5 others beneath it. The task is to determine which of the portraits on the bottom displays the same affect as that shown by the portrait at top. 

  • Affect Discrimination

Two portraits of the same person are show simultaneously. The task is to indicate whether the two pictures exhibit the same or different affects.

  • Affect Naming

A single picture is show. The task is to decide whether the person whose portrait appears is happy, sad, angry, surprised, disgusted, frightened, or in a neutral state.

  • Name Emotional Prosody

A single, affectively neutral sentence is read aloud. The task is to indicate whether the prosody can be best labeled as happy, sad, angry, frightened, or neutral.

  • Non-emotional Prosody Discrimination

Two affectively neutral sentences are read aloud as simple declarative sentences or as questions. For example, The bread was cold. vs The bread was cold? The task is to determine whether their prosody matches.

  • Emotional Prosody Discrimination

The same affectively neutral sentences are read aloud. The task is to indicate whether the prosody is the same or different. 

  • Match Emotional Prosody to Emotional Face

Five portraits are displayed. Then a sentence is read aloud. The task is to identify which of the portraits exhibits the same affect as that expressed by the voice.

  • Match Emotional Face to Emotional Prosody

One portrait is shown. Then the same sentence is read aloud with two different prosodies. The task is to indicate which of the two readings exhibits the affect shown in the portrait.

  • Conflicting Prosody -- Respond to Meaning

A affect-laden sentence (e.g., The surgeon removed the wrong leg!) is read with either an appropriate, inappropriate or neutral prosody. The listener is to concentrate on and identify the affect inherent in the meaning of the message and ignore the prosody.

  • Conflicting Prosody -- Respond to Prosody

An affect-laden sentence (e.g., The surgeon removed the wrong leg!) is read with either appropriate, inappropriate or neutral prosody. The listener is to ignore the meaning of the message and to focus and identify the prosody.