On each trial, you will see a display like the following:
|WIN $1 - WIN $2| versus |WIN $3 - WIN $100|
Your task is to imagine the four events, WIN $1, WIN $2, WIN $3, and WIN $100; then think of the diference in utility between the two on the left and the difference in utility between the two on the right. You will then judge which ABSOLUTE DiFFERENCE is bigger, using the following scale:
1st button = DIFFERENCE on the LEFT is very much bigger
2nd button = DIFFERENCE on the LEFT is much bigger
3rd button = DIFFERENCE on the LEFT is bigger
4th button = DIFFERENCE on the LEFT is slightly bigger
5th button = DIFFERENCES are EQUAL
6th button = DIFFERENCE on the RIGHT is slightly bigger
7th button = DIFFERENCE on the RIGHT is bigger
8th button = DIFFERENCE on the RIGHT is much bigger
9th button = DIFFERENCE on the RIGHT is very much bigger
In the above example, most people would say that the difference on the RIGHT, between winning $3 and $100 is much greater than the difference on the LEFT, between winning $1 and $2.
If the two differences in utility are the same, click the middle button of the response scale. If the difference on the LEFT is greater, you will click one of the buttons to the left side, depending on how much bigger is the difference. After a few warmup trials, you will learn how to use the response scale.
In W1 below, the two differences are the same, so you should click the button in the center of the scale.