Written specifically for those with no prior programming experience and minimal quantitative training, this accessible text walks behavioral science students and researchers through the process of programming using MATLAB. The book explores examples, terms, and programming needs relevant to those in the behavioral sciences and helps readers perform virtually any computational function in solving their research problems.

Table of Contents

• Preface
• Acknowledgements
• About the Authors
• 1 Introduction
• 1.1 Getting oriented
• 1.2 Getting an overview of this book
• 1.3 Understanding computer architecture
• 1.4 Programming principles
• 1.5 Deciding if a program is needed and whether you should write it
• 1.6 Being as clear as possible about what your program should do
• 1.7 Working incrementally
• 1.8 Being open to negative feedback
• 1.9 Programming with a friend
• 1.10 Writing concise programs
• 1.11 Writing clear programs
• 1.12 Writing correct programs
• 1.13 Understanding how the chapters of this book are organized
• 1.14 Using the website associated with this book
• 1.15 Obtaining and installing MATLAB
• 1.16 Acknowledging limits
• 2 Interacting With MATLAB
• 2.1 Using MATLAB’s windows
• 2.2 Using the Command window
• 2.3 Writing tiny programs in the Command window
• 2.4 Allowing or suppressing outputs by omitting or including end-of-line semi-colons
• 2.5 Correcting errors in the Command window
• 2.6 Writing, saving, and running larger programs as scripts (.m files)
• 2.7 Running and debugging MATLAB programs
• 2.8 Keeping a diary
• 2.9 Practicing interacting with MATLAB
• 3 Matrices
• 3.1 Creating matrices
• 3.2 Specifying elements of matrices
• 3.3 Concatenating matrices
• 3.4 Determining the size of matrices
• 3.5 Transposing or reshaping matrices
• 3.6 Creating matrices with shorthand methods
• 3.7 Checking the status of matrices
• 3.8 Clearing and emptying matrices
• 3.9 Practicing with matrices
• 4 Calculations
• 4.1 Adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing, and raising values to a power
• 4.2 Using built-in functions to compute the square root, remainder, absolute value, logarithms, and exponentiation
• 4.3 Ordering calculations
• 4.4 Generating random numbers
• 4.5 Performing statistical calculations to obtain the sum, mean, standard deviation, variance, minimum, maximum, correlation, and least-squares fit
• 4.6 Performing statistical calculations with missing data
• 4.7 Calculating with matrices
• 4.8 Using matrix algebra
• 4.9 Sorting arrays
• 4.10 Rounding values, and finding their floor and ceiling
• 4.11 Generating magic squares and calendars
• 4.12 Practicing calculations
• 5 Contingencies
• 5.1 Using the if … else … end construct
• 5.2 Using the switch … case … end construct
• 5.3 Using the for … end construct
• 5.4 Using the while … end construct and escaping from runaway loops
• 5.5 Vectorizing rather than using for … end
• 5.6 If-ing instantly
• 5.7 If-ing instantly once again and finding indices of satisfying values
• 5.8 Applying contingencies: Constrained random sequences and Latin squares
• 5.9 Practicing contingencies
• 6 Input-Output
• 6.1 Copying and pasting data by hand
• 6.2 Getting input from a user and displaying the result
• 6.3 Pausing
• 6.4 Recording reaction time and other delays with tic … toc
• 6.5 Formatting numbers for screen outputs
• 6.6 Assigning arrays of literal characters (strings) to variables
• 6.7 Controlling file print formats
• 6.8 Writing data to named files
• 6.9 Writing text to named files
• 6.10 Checking and changing the current directory
• 6.11 Reading data saved as plain text from named files
• 6.12 Reading data from and writing data to Excel spreadsheets
• 6.13 Taking precautions against overwriting files
• 6.14 Saving and loading variables in native MATLAB format
• 6.15 Learning more about input and output
• 6.16 Practicing input-output
• 7 Data Types
• 7.1 Identifying strings, numbers, and logical values (Booleans)
• 7.2 Converting characters to numbers and vice versa
• 7.3 Creating, accessing, and using cell arrays
• 7.4 Creating and accessing structures
• 7.5 Searching and modifying strings
• 7.6 Applying data types
• 7.7 Practicing data types
• 8 Modules and Functions
• 8.1 Taking a top-down approach to programming by using modules
• 8.2 Writing and using general-purpose functions
• 8.3 Getting multiple outputs from functions
• 8.4 Passing multiple input arguments to functions
• 8.5 Creating multiple functions in a file
• 8.6 Calling functions properly
• 8.7 Exploiting recursive functions
• 8.8 Drawing on previously defined functions versus creating your own
• 8.9 Practicing modules and functions
• 9 Plots
• 9.1 Deciding to plot data and, for starters, generating a sine function
• 9.2 Controlling axes
• 9.3 Controlling the appearance of plotted points and lines
• 9.4 Having more than one graph per plot and more types of points and lines
• 9.5 Getting and setting properties of plotted points
• 9.6 Adding xlabels, ylabels, and titles
• 9.7 Adding legends
• 9.8 Adding text
• 9.9 Fitting curves
• 9.10 Creating and labeling subplots and turning grids, boxes, and axes on and off
• 9.11 Exploiting matrix assignments to merge subplots
• 9.12 Getting and setting properties of axes
• 9.13 Plotting data points with error bars
• 9.14 Generating polar and compass plots
• 9.15 Generating histograms
• 9.16 Generating bar graphs
• 9.17 Saving, exporting, and printing figures
• 9.18 Generating other kinds of graphs and getting and setting figure properties
• 9.19 Practicing plots
• 10 Lines, Shapes, and Images
• 10.1 Generating lines
• 10.2 Forming and filling shapes
• 10.3 Loading images
• 10.4 Generating your own images
• 10.5 Clicking in figure windows to add graphics, add text, or record responses
• 10.6 “Stairing”
• 10.7 Generating three-dimensional bar graphs
• 10.8 Plotting in three dimensions
• 10.9 Plotting above a meshgrid
• 10.10 Plotting “meshy” data
• 10.11 “Surfing” the “web”
• 10.12 Changing points of view
• 10.13 Generating contours
• 10.14 Checking your understanding of meshgrid-based graphing
• 10.15 Generating rectangular solids
• 10.16 Generating spheres and cylinders
• 10.17 Generating ellipsoids
• 10.18 Practicing plots
• 11 Animation and Sound
• 11.1 Animating by changing successive images
• 11.2 Watching comets
• 11.3 Animating by drawing now
• 11.4 Making movies
• 11.5 Saving movies
• 11.6 Reading and running previously saved movies
• 11.7 Playing beeps
• 11.8 Loading and playing sound files
• 11.9 Controlling volume
• 11.10 Staggering or overlapping sounds and delaying sounds
• 11.11 Controlling volume while staggering or overlapping sounds
• 11.12 Creating your own sound files computationally
• 11.13 Writing and reading files for sound
• 11.14 Learning more about sound-related functions
• 11.15 Practicing animation and sounds
• 12 Enhanced User Interaction
• 12.1 Getting less “clunky”
• 12.2 Creating graphic user interfaces (GUIs)
• 12.3 Using built-in user interface utilities
• 12.4 Writing code for user interface functions
• 12.5 Prototyping user interfaces using GUIDE
• 12.6 Recording user interactions
• 12.7 Practicing interfaces and interactions
• 13 Psychtoolbox
• 13.1 Introducing Psychtoolbox
• 13.2 Installing Psychtoolbox
• 13.3 Writing a simple Psychtoolbox program
• 13.4 Using Psychtoolbox documentation
• 13.5 Changing fonts and font sizes
• 13.6 Adding shapes to a display
• 13.7 Adding textures and images to a display
• 13.8 Displaying stimuli sequentially with precise timing
• 13.9 Collecting keyboard input
• 13.10 Monitoring keyboard input while doing other things
• 13.11 Collecting a response string
• 13.12 Collecting mouse data
• 13.13 Creating an animation with moving dots
• 13.14 Making things transparent
• 13.15 Testing the Simon effect with Psychtoolbox
• 13.16 Exploring Psychtoolbox further
• 13.17 Recovering from Psychtoolbox program crashes and infinite loops
• 13.18 Problems
• 14 Debugging
• 14.1 Debugging using error messages and breakpoints
• 14.2 Using temporary feedback for debugging
• 14.3 Interpreting error messages
• 14.4 Using graphic output for programming and debugging
• 14.5 Practicing debugging
• 15 Going On
• 15.1 Programming productively
• 15.2 Finding and navigating in the Editor
• 15.3 Double commenting
• 15.4 Comparing files
• 15.5 Profiling for efficiency
• 15.6 Examining built-in functions
• 15.7 Creating stand-alone applications
• 15.8 Programming ethically
• 15.9 Reading further
• References