Reasoning2–4 minBurden: MediumEMA: Medium

Grid Navigation

A spatial planning task where participants navigate a player token to a target on a small grid using the fewest moves.

Spatial planningProblem solvingExecutive planning
Category
Reasoning
Typical duration
2–4 min
Participant burden
Medium
EMA suitability
Medium

Try this task

Configure parameters and run an interactive preview exactly as participants will experience it. No data is recorded.

Configure preview

Adjust parameters below, then start the preview on the right.

Include practice trials

Shown with feedback before the main task

Task parameters

4×4 grid. Outputs: completion rate and average extra steps over optimal path.

2–4 minBurden: MediumEMA: Medium

This is a researcher preview. No participant data is recorded.

Simulated participant view

9:41

Grid Navigation

A spatial planning task where participants navigate a player token to a target on a small grid using the fewest moves.

No data is recorded

Participant experience on smartphone

A 4×4 grid is shown with a blue player, a green target, and optional wall obstacles. Arrow buttons move the player one step at a time.

When to use

Useful when the study needs a planning or problem-solving measure that is visual and interactive but does not require language. Good complement to matrix reasoning or trail-making.

When not to use

Less suitable for very high-frequency EMA because each trial requires deliberate multi-step input. Motor coordination issues can confound performance.

How to use in a study

Start with 0–2 wall obstacles for practice, then use 2–3 walls in live trials. Keep the move limit generous enough that participants who plan poorly still finish most levels.

Researcher-configurable parameters

  • Number of live trials
  • Wall count per level
  • Move limit per level
  • Practice trials enabled / disabled

Outputs collected

  • Completion rate
  • Average extra steps over optimal path
  • Completion time per trial

Interpretation notes

Extra steps over the BFS-optimal path is the primary planning efficiency metric. Lower extra-step counts indicate more effective advance planning.

Scientific evidence

  • Spatial navigation tasks on touchscreens are feasible for unsupervised field research and sensitive to individual differences in planning ability.

Read more

Related tasks

Use in your study

Add this task to your ESM study on SMAAT — free to get started.

Sign up free →