Protocol - Decision Making (Iowa Gambling Task) - Adult
- Delayed Reward Discounting (Monetary-Choice Questionnaire)
- Disinhibiting Behaviors - Impulsivity - Adolescent and Adult
- Disinhibiting Behaviors - Impulsivity - Child
- Laboratory Test of Risk Taking (Balloon Analogue Risk Task)
Description
The Iowa Gambling Test™ is a computer-administered task in which the participant selects cards one at a time from four decks. Participants are instructed that each card selected will result in winning money, with some cards also taking money away. The goal of the task is to accumulate as much money as possible. Two of the decks are advantageous (i.e., over the long run, the participant can expect to win money because these decks include cards that offer small rewards with cards that offer modest losses).The other two decks are disadvantageous (i.e., over the long run, the participant can expect to lose money because these decks include cards with large rewards but also cards with disproportionately large losses). Several summary scores can be calculated, including total money won and the difference between advantageous and disadvantageous selections.
For more information about the Iowa Gambling Test™, please refer to the Cognitive Atlas Interpretation.
Specific Instructions
The Iowa Gambling Test™ is a proprietary protocol and its administration requires a licensing agreement from PAR, Inc.
Participants can play for hypothetical or real rewards; the two conditions give highly similar results.
Because there are likely to be practice effects, repeat administration of the test is not recommended.
Availability
Protocol
Summary of the Iowa Gambling Test™
Participants are given a loan and then instructed to get as much money as possible by drawing cards one at a time from four separate decks. All cards reward the participant with money, while some also penalize the participant by taking money away. Two of the decks are "disadvantageous" resulting in an equivalent net loss in the long run, while the other two decks are "advantageous" resulting in an equivalent net gain over time.
Scoring
Normative scores are automatically generated by a software program. Two normative standards - demographically corrected (N = 932) and U.S. Census-matched (N = 264) - are available. Several normative scores are generated by the software, including Total Net Score, net scores for each block of 20 cards/trials, total number of cards selected from each deck, and total money won. In addition, raw scores and T-score profiles, which may reveal relevant information (e.g., learning curve, random selection), are generated. Lastly, a trial-by-trial table that displays deck choice, amount won, amount lost, total money, and time for each trial is generated for each administration. In addition, the pattern of deck choice can be analyzed further to determine whether sensitivity to reward versus aversion to punishment was the primary determinant of decision making, with subscores for each (see references of Yechiam et al., 2005 and Busemeyer & Stout, 2002).
The Iowa Gambling Test™ is a trademark of PAR, Inc.
Personnel and Training Required
The Iowa Gambling Test™ can be administered by research assistants trained in the ethical and competent use of psychological tests. Examiners should study the administration and scoring procedures found in the Professional Manual and follow all procedures precisely.
Equipment Needs
The computerized version of the Iowa Gambling Test™ requires Windows XP, Vista, or 7 and NTFS file system, Internet connection for activation, and a CD-ROM drive for installation.
Requirements
| Requirement Category | Required |
|---|---|
| Major equipment | No |
| Specialized training | No |
| Specialized requirements for biospecimen collection | No |
| Average time of greater than 15 minutes in an unaffected individual | Yes |
Mode of Administration
Self-administered evaluation
Lifestage
Adolescent, Adult
Participants
Adults and adolescents aged 13 years or older
Selection Rationale
The Iowa Gambling Test™ is a well known test of decision making and users of alcohol, cocaine, opiates, and marijuana have been shown to perform more poorly than controls. Furthermore, the Iowa Gambling Test™ was originally developed for patients with lesions in the prefrontal cortex, an area of the brain known to be involved in addiction disorders. The Iowa Gambling Test™ outcomes are stable across different modes of administration (e.g., using a computer-based test versus using a deck of cards) and across different rewards (e.g., real versus fake money) (Buelow & Suhr, 2009; Bowman & Turnbull, 2003).
Language
English
Standards
| Standard | Name | ID | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human Phenotype Ontology | Risk taking | HP:0031472 | HPO |
Derived Variables
None
Process and Review
The Expert Review Panel #3 (ERP 3) reviewed the measures in Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Substances, and Substance Abuse and Addiction domains.
Guidance from ERP 3 includes:
• No significant changes to measure
Back-compatible: NA no changes to Data Dictionary
Protocol Name from Source
Iowa Gambling Test™
Source
Bechara, A., Damasio, A. R., Damasio, H., & Anderson, S. W. (1994). Insensitivity to future consequences following damage to human prefrontal cortex. Cognition, 50(1-3), 7-15.
The Iowa Gambling Test™ is a proprietary protocol and administration requires a licensing agreement from PAR, Inc.: PAR, Inc. 16204 N. Florida Ave. Lutz, FL 33549 Tel: 800 331 8378 E-mail: custsup@parinc.com Web: http://www.parinc.com
General References
Ahn, W. Y., Busemeyer, J. R., Wagenmakers, E. J., & Stout, J. C. (2009). Comparison of decision learning models using the generalization criterion method. Cognitive Science, 32, 1376-1402.
Bechara, A., Tranel, D., & Damasio, H. (2000). Characterization of the decision-making deficit of patients with ventromedial prefrontal cortex lesions. Brain, 123, 2189-2202.
Bowman, C. H., & Turnbull, O. H. (2003). Real versus facsimile reinforcers on the Iowa gambling task. Brain and Cognition, 53,207-210.
Buelow, M. T., & Suhr, J. A. (2009). Construct validity of the Iowa Gambling Task. Neuropsychology Review, 19(1), 102-114.
Busemeyer, J. R., & Stout, J. C. (2002). A contribution of cognitive decision models to clinical assessment: Decomposing performance on the Bechara Gambling Task. Psychological Assessment, 14, 253-262.
Olson, E. A., Hooper, C. J., Collins, P., & Luciana, M. (2007). Adolescents’ performance on delay and probability discounting tasks: contributions of age, intelligence, executive functioning, and self-reported externalizing behavior. Personality and Individual Differences, 43(7), 1886-1897.
Stout, J. C., Busemeyer, J. R., Lin, A., Grant, S. R., & Bonson, K. R. (2004). Cognitive modeling analysis of the decision-making processes used by cocaine abusers. Psychonomic Bulletin and Review, 11(4), 742-747.
Yechiam, E., Busemeyer, J. R., Stout, J. C., & Bechara, A. (2005). Using cognitive models to map relations between neuropsychological disorders and human decision making deficits. Psychological Science, 16(12), 841-861.
Protocol ID
530202
Variables
Export Variables| Variable Name | Variable ID | Variable Description | dbGaP Mapping | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PX530202000000 | Protocol 530202 - proprietary. Check DCW for more | N/A | ||
Measure Name
Decision Making (Iowa Gambling Task)
Release Date
February 24, 2012
Definition
This measure assesses the degree to which subjects can learn and adapt behavior to avoid punished responses in order to maximize benefits from a series of decisions.
Purpose
Substance users and substance-dependent individuals are known to have poor decision-making skills (Buelow & Suhr, 2009). Because decision-making skills develop during childhood and adolescence and continue into adulthood, this measure can be used to predict the emergence of potential new risk behaviors such as substance use.
Keywords
Adult, Child, Decision Making, Drug Abuse, drug use, IGT, Iowa Gambling Test™, PAR, Inc., proprietary, risk, Risk Taking, substance abuse, substance use, SAA, Substance Use-related Neurobehavioral and Cognitive Risk Factors, computer administered
Measure Protocols
| Protocol ID | Protocol Name |
|---|---|
| 530201 | Decision Making (Iowa Gambling Task) - Child |
| 530202 | Decision Making (Iowa Gambling Task) - Adult |
Publications
There are no publications listed for this protocol.