The Change in Technology in Psychology

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The Change in Technology in Psychology

• Dean DavidsonSchool of PsychologyUniversity
  of New England

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Types of Experiments

• Perception
• Physiological
• Brain function (Cognition)
• Behaviour

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Perception

• Stroop BLUE
• Muller Lyer

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Physiological Experiments
Signal Amplifier
Processor
Recorder
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Physiological Experiments
KymographEarly (1900s) mechanical recording
equipment
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Physiological Experiments
GSR AmplifierValve based, 1950s
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Physiological Experiments
Grass Recorder Transistor based 1970s Combined
amplifier, processor and Recorder in the one unit
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Physiological Experiments
Biopac Transistor IC based 1990s Amplifiers
feeding into an ADC and processor. Outputted as
data files to a PC for processing and display
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Physiological Experiments
Stress-O-Meter Silicon Chip 1998 - IC
based Dumb hardware given intelligence by a
program running on a PC. Analysis and results
display using Excel or SPSS
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Rat Experiments
Control Panel (1960s) Transistors and logic
blocks
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Rat Experiments
Control Panel (1970s) Transistors and ICs
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Rat Experiments
Serial Interface (1980s) Provides computer
control of experiment. Serial interface was used
as it provided signals both to and from the
computer. The computer was either a PDP 11 or PC
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Rat Experiments
Activity box (current). Signals are sent to and
from the box using a digital I/O card, available
in kit form
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Rat Experiments
Sniffy the Rat Computer simulation used to
model rat behaviour.
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Hardware to Software
CardmasterUsed for displaying images for a short
amount of time
Jpeg images are now displayed on computer screen
and reaction times are measured directly from a
press of a key on the computer keyboard, or via a
push button box and interface to the PC parallel
port
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Hardware to Software
Chronoscope -Displayed reaction times
Timer -Turned apparatus on/off for a specified
time
Now all timing is done by computer programs
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Hardware to Software
Spinning Disks
Now a sequence of images, rotated by 1 degree or
so. These are sequentially displayed on the
computer screen
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Hardware to Software
Tachistoscope Displayed images for very small
amounts of time
Now done using CRT displays. Limitation is screen
refresh rate. 10mS is the minimum
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Hardware to Software
Muller-Lyer Apparatus Wooden frame with pulleys
and cords. The illusion is presented on white
cards
Now easily done on the PC
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Hardware to Software
Voice Operated RelayUsed to measure reaction
times by the subject speaking
Now, using a sound card on a PC, not only can the
reaction time be measured, but also the subjects
response can be recorded
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1930
1 Logic Circuit (with external discrete
components)
80mm
10 µS
6SN7 Valve
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1940
1 Logic Circuit (with external discrete
components)
50mm
1 µS
6J6 Valve
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1950
2 Logic Circuits
150mm
10 µS
Transistor Logic Card
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1960
2 Logic Circuits
50mm
1 µS
Potted Transistor Logic
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1970
4 Logic Circuits
20mm
100 nS
7400 Integrated Circuit
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1980
100,000 Logic Circuits
50mm
250 nS
Zilog Z80 Microcomputer Chip
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1990
1,000,000 Logic Circuits
30mm
20 nS
Intel 386DX Microcomputer Chip
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Stress O Meter
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Voice Operated Relay
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Staffing 1990

• Professional Officer -Technical coordination,
  PDP11 operations
• Technical Officer - Animal house, Audio
  Visual, Presentation Graphics
• Technical Officer - Electronics and
  Computing
• Technical Officer - Electronics and
  Mechanical

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Staffing present

• CSO -Technical coordination, Computer
  programming, Computer Support
• Senior TO - Audio Visual,
  Presentation Graphics Computer Support
• Technical Officer - Computer Support (Part time)

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How do we survive?

• We outsource some of our Computer support and any
  electronic/mechanical construction.
• No electronic design has been needed in the last
  four years. We either buy ready made products or
  build up interfaces from kits.
• All of us are capable of carrying out trivial
  tasks such as soldering, cable manufacture, etc.

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Future Trends

• Behavioural Genetics
• Brain function mapping
• Web based programs

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Ongoing Technical Support in Psychology

• Large Animal Houses will always need
  technicians/lab assistants.
• Experiment generator programs cant do
  everything.
• And of course, there remains the need for
  someone to arrange outsourcing both for new
  projects and breakdowns, or even changing the
  laser printer toner cartridge.

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Future Trends

• Less requirement for manual trades.
• Greater need for computer training
• Greater need for understanding the discipline
• Greater need for interpersonal and team skills
• More interesting and varied work

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