Generic Test

The Generic test allows for various test in addition to the predefined test types in GP. The generic test is also used as a base for other tests in GP.

Here is a list of parameters needed by the test. This table lists only the parameters that have some special information about parameters or that override or adds new parameters to the common test parameters list.

Parameter Value Description R/O
class GenericABC A class alias (GenericABC) or a fully qualified java class name of the class that handles the test. Req.
generic.sampleParams list of names A comma-separated list of names of parameters that are samples. Req.

Note: All other test classes in GP use the generic test as their base and they predefine the sampleParams parameter automatically. The parameter is only required if using the generic test directly or using special item features.

Test item parameters

The simplest way of defining information for special items is to use the sampleParams parameter above. For example, if four samples are compared in the test, the configuration file would contain a line like this: 

   # Sample parameters that are sample IDs
   generic.sampleParams:   A,B,C,D
The list of item parameters would be like this (like in other tests):

Parameter Value Description R/O
A sample ID Sample ID of sample A. Req.
B sample ID Sample ID of sample B. Req.
C sample ID Sample ID of sample C. Req.
D sample ID Sample ID of sample D. Req.

Here is an example of such an item: 

   item2.A=pirr22
   item2.B=pirr32
   item2.C=pirr16
   item2.D=pirr11
The item's itemID is 'item2'.

More specialized items

If additional parameters that are not samples or they are optional, the simple sampleParams is not enough. A default template needs to be created. The default item template is always used as base when items are loaded from items file. It defines the list of names of parameters that are used in the item, and which of them are required.

For example, defining a template for a test where three sets of speaker systems are tested using different virtual players and samples: The needed parameters would perhaps look like this:

Parameter Value Description R/O
A sample ID Sample ID of sample A. Req.
B sample ID Sample ID of sample B. Req.
C sample ID Sample ID of sample C. Req.
A_player player ID The ID of the player that is used as player for sample A. Opt.
B_player player ID The ID of the player that is used as player for sample B. Opt.
C_player player ID The ID of the player that is used as player for sample C. Opt.

The *_player parameters are not sample ID, so they cannot be given in sampleParams. They are also optional, they do not have to be defined.

The configuration definitions needed for such test would then be: 

   # Default item template: 
   #  Define which parameters are used
   itemTemplates.default.parameters:          A,B,C,A_player,B_player,C_player
   #  Which parameters are required (others are optional)
   itemTemplates.default.requiredParameters:  A,B,C
   #
   # Which parameters are samples:
   generic.sampleParams:   A,B,C

A test item would then look like this in the items file: 

   item6.A:        samp34_1ch
   item6.A_player: set1ch
   item6.B:        samp34_5ch
   item6.B_player: set5ch
   item6.C:        samp34_2ch
   item6.C_player: set2ch

Special parameters

The generic test currently recognizes one special parameter: player to use for a sample. In the future more features like these may be added when needed.

Player for sample

The generic test can assign a specific player that plays that sample during that item. It looks for a player ID for a sample from item parameter whose name is in the form '<sampleParam>_player', where <sampleParam> is a parameter in the sampleParams list. If a player ID is found, the corresponding player is assigned as the player for that sample. If no player ID is found, default player is used.

For this to work, the <sampleParam>_player parameters must be defined as item parameters. See examples above in special items.

See also sound player configuration for information on how to define virtual players.

Results

As a result the subject's answers are recorded. The testers may define the questions in any way they want.
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Last modified: Wed Jul 28 16:11:00 EEST 1999