Tutorial for using Canva to create video instructions for tasks. This is a helpful tool for gamifying your tasks - the importance of task gamification for research is highlighted by Long et al., 2023!
This repository contains a contextual bandit task for studying multi-attribute reinforcement learning (RL). The task is designed to run locally in your browser, allowing for efficient and accessible experimentation.
The Contextual Bandit Task is a behavioral paradigm created to explore multi-attribute decision-making using reinforcement learning principles. Participants are presented with choices that vary across multiple attributes, enabling the study of complex decision-making behaviors in a controlled setting.
To run the task:
- Clone this repository to your local machine.
- Open
...\multiattribute_RL_task\index.htmlin yor local browser. Note: This task is coded in JavaScript, so all functionality runs client-side within your browser.
File Structure:
index.html: Main HTML file to launch the task.
static: Folder containing images and custom plugins (JsPsych) necessary for creating and displaying task attributes.
Participants in this task will:
- Make decisions between options with multiple attributes (shape and color).
- Receive feedback based on their choices, simulating a reinforcement learning environment.
- Accumulate rewards over trials, allowing for analysis of multi-attribute learning and decision strategies.
Creating gamified video instructions The first step is to create a free account by visiting Canva. There is a 14-day free trial for Canva Pro which grants access to all site features. However, Canva Pro is not absolutely necessary for creating video instructions.
Next, create a blank video by clicking on 'Video' from the available templates.
Add and rearrange scenes by pressing the plus sign button:
Add background images or avatars by navigating to the Elements tab and searching for your desired features:
Add sound effects and background music by navigating to the Audio tab and searching for your desired audio:
To add a voice recording of your instructions, you will need to record the audio externally. Online Voice Recorder is an easy and free site for recording mp3 files on your local device.
Once you've recorded your instructions, import the mp3 files to Canva using the Uploads > Audio tab. You can also import your own images and/or video clips within the Uploads tab:
Drag and drop your audio files beneath the corresponding scene(s):
Once you are finished with your video, download it locally as an mp4 file by navigating to Share > Download.
Note, it is important to consider principles of Universal Design (i.e., captioning your video or ensuring that a transcript is made available to participants) when creating task instructions so ensure accessibility.
Example instruction video: Gem Hunters
Additional resources:
Creating and editing videos - Canva Help Center
Tips for conducting online studies (Hosting: Prolific, Recruiting: Pavlovia)