Spaceships and Aliens game is an online implementation of the original two-stage task paradigm.
The two-step task, or the "two-stage" task, is an experiment designed to assess decision-making processes in the study of reinforcement learning (e.g. model-free and model-based inference approaches), and behavioral pathologies such as obsessive-compulsive disorder and gambling disorder.
Participants are tasked with navigating a two-stage decision-making process involving choices between different options, with the goal of maximizing point accumulation through strategic selections.
The Two-Step Task Game simulates a resource-gathering mission where participants act as astronauts tasked with collecting valuable gems from alien traders. The game consists of two stages:
- Rocket Selection (Stage 1)
- Alien Trader Selection (Stage 2)
Participants will make 150 selections throughout the game, which are tracked to measure decision-making efficiency and adaptability.
Objective: Choose between two rockets to travel to one of two planets.
Mechanics: Each rocket is associated with a probabilistic outcome of landing on one of the two planets. The association between rockets and planets is not fixed and varies probabilistically.
Controls: LEFT ARROW key: Selects the left rocket. RIGHT ARROW key: Selects the right rocket.
Objective: Upon arriving at a planet, choose between two alien traders.
Mechanics: The alien traders offer either valuable gems or non-valuable dirt. The distribution of gems and dirt varies over time, introducing dynamic changes to the trading environment.
Controls: LEFT ARROW key: Selects the left alien trader. RIGHT ARROW key: Selects the right alien trader.