The pre-tests were designed to probe whether each of the informational inputs utilized in the studies really did evoke pleasant (or less pleasant) changes in affective experience.
Pre-test 1 tested only the inputs used in Study 1, while pre-test 2 tested only the inputs used in Study 2. Both tests were designed to be completed online.
Participants were students (different from the ones that participated in the studies) from a European University and they were asked to evaluate the affective reaction which each of the informational inputs evoked. In order to complete the survey, participants first had to pass an attention check. In pre-test 1, of the 75 responses to the survey, 16 did not pass the check, leaving us with 59 that completely filled out the survey. In pre-test 2, of the 49 responses to the survey, 18 did not pass the check, leaving us with 31 that completely filled out the survey.
Participants evaluated each feature on a scale of -8 (Unpleasant) to 8 (Pleasant). They were told to evaluate each input associated with a specific reward independently from the others. The presentation of the inputs was randomized. The order of presentation of the rewards was also randomized.