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Creating The Study Context

Study Context is a support event.  It refers to the physical setting of the research and the properties (natural or artificial/simulated)  of that setting.  Sometimes these properties are called "experimental conditions" or "study environment."  At one extreme, the context of the study is completely natural and there are no attempts to control it, as in most survey designs.   At the other extreme, the context is created FOR the study and is carefully controlled throughout the study, as in many laboratory experiments.  In the hypothetical study for this tutorial, the study context is a simulated criminal trial that is designed and conducted explicitly for the experiment.

Context construction must be done before the sessions begin and data is collected.  Therefore, this is referred to as a Preparatory Event.  Sample construction (next) is another such preparatory event.

To specify the "Study Context," click on the Make & Edit Events tab.  
Click on Create in the Event Specification Table.  Click on "Support" and then "Study Context."  In the Event Label field, enter "Instructions Trial Context."  Fill out the other fields.  There are two "conditions" specified under this context event, as follows.