PsyToolkit: A software package for programming psychological experiments using Linux

• Published in: Behavior research methods Vol. 42; no. 4; pp. 1096 - 1104
• Main Author: Stoet, Gijsbert
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer-Verlag 01.11.2010; Psychonomic Society, Inc
• Subjects: Behavioral Science and Psychology; Cedrus; Cognitive Psychology; Computers; Experiments; Humans; Light; Operating systems; Psychology; Software; Software reviews; Syntax; User-Computer Interface; Script Language; Light Sensor; Stimulus Response Compatibility; Psychological Experiment; Behavior Research Method
• ISSN: 1554-351X; 1554-3528; 1554-3528
• DOI: 10.3758/BRM.42.4.1096

PsyToolkit is a set of software tools for programming psychological experiments on Linux computers. Given that PsyToolkit is freely available under the Gnu Public License, open source, and designed such that it can easily be modified and extended for individual needs, it is suitable not only for technically oriented Linux users, but also for students, researchers on small budgets, and universities in developing countries. The software includes a high-level scripting language, a library for the programming language C, and a questionnaire presenter. The software easily integrates with other open source tools, such as the statistical software package R. PsyToolkit is designed to work with external hardware (including IoLab and Cedrus response keyboards and two common digital input/output boards) and to support millisecond timing precision. Four in-depth examples explain the basic functionality of PsyToolkit. Example 1 demonstrates a stimulus—response compatibility experiment. Example 2 demonstrates a novel mouse-controlled visual search experiment. Example 3 shows how to control light emitting diodes using PsyToolkit, and Example 4 shows how to build a light-detection sensor. The last two examples explain the electronic hardware setup such that they can even be used with other software packages.