To the right is an example of the Element Sample Tests used by Langely and Riley (1993). It is similar to other element/compound MTS tasks, except that it is a symbolic matching task, where the comparisons are not visually similar to the sample.

There are four types of sample: two colors (blue and green) and two shapes (circle and triangle). One set of comparisons is presented after color samples and another is presented after shape samples.

To run the applet…

• Peck (click on) the white ready signal on the center key
• Now the element sample is presented. It is either a color (a blue or green square) or a shape (triangle or circle). Peck it once.
• Depending on the sample presented, two comparisons are now displayed on the side keys. One set of comparisons is presented after shape samples and another set is presented after color samples. Pecking the correct comparison based on the sample results in presentation of the food hopper (the lower box turns yellow). Pecking the incorrect comparison results in a time out and no food.
• The white ready signal appears after the ITI to signal the beginning of a new trial.