MacArthur Ladder Task
Version: v1 (current)
A subjective social status measure assessing perceived socioeconomic position in society.
Overview
The MacArthur Scale of Subjective Social Status (MacArthur Ladder) presents a 10-rung ladder representing social hierarchy. Participants indicate where they see themselves relative to others in terms of income, education, and occupation. Unlike objective SES measures (actual income, education level), this captures subjective perception of social standing.
Research shows subjective social status predicts health outcomes, stress, and wellbeing beyond objective SES measures, making it a valuable addition to health and social psychology studies.
Scientific Background
Classic Findings:
- Health Prediction: Subjective SES predicts health outcomes independent of objective SES
- Cultural Variation: Reference groups vary by community (neighborhood vs. nation)
- Psychological Impact: Lower subjective status associated with increased stress and inflammation
Seminal Paper:
- Adler, Epel, Castellazzo, & Ickovics (2000): Relationship of subjective and objective social status with psychological and physiological functioning
Why Researchers Use This Task
- Health Psychology: Predict health outcomes and health behaviors
- Stress Research: Measure perceived social standing as a stressor
- Social Epidemiology: Complement objective SES indicators
- Community Studies: Assess relative standing within communities
- Intervention Research: Track changes in perceived status
Where to Configure
Study Form → Tasks → MacArthur Ladder → Configure.
Configuration Parameters
| Parameter | Type | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Instructions | rich text (HTML) | Explains the MacArthur ladder framing (top = best off, bottom = worst off) | Shown on a dedicated page before the ladder trial begins |
| Hint Instructions | rich text (HTML) | Short reminder of the ladder framing | Shown via the "?" quick-reference button during the task |
Trial Instructions (macarthur_trial_instructions) | rich text (HTML) | Short reminder of the ladder framing | Displayed in a column to the left of the clickable ladder. Only editable via the task's stored parameters; no study-form control exists yet. |
The task uses a fixed 10-rung ladder image (assets/ladder.png); the number of rungs and reference group are not configurable parameters.
Participant Flow
- The participant sees a dedicated instructions page explaining the ladder before the trial begins.
- Once started, the participant sees a visual ladder with numbered rungs (1 at the bottom, 10 at the top), alongside a short reminder of the ladder framing.
- Instructions explain that the top represents people with the most money, education, and respected jobs, while the bottom represents people with the least.
- The participant clicks or taps the rung that best represents their perceived position.
- The selected rung is highlighted and the participant clicks the button to confirm and advance.
Data Output
Markers and Responses
The task records high-resolution timestamps in two separate collections:
Markers (stimulus_shown):
{
"type": "stimulus_shown",
"ts": "2024-01-01T00:00:01.000Z",
"hr": 1234.56,
"data": {
"trial": 1
}
}
Markers (ladder_click):
{
"type": "ladder_click",
"ts": "2024-01-01T00:00:05.000Z",
"hr": 5234.56,
"data": {
"x_pct": 50.2,
"y_pct": 35.8
}
}
Response Data (one record per placement, including intermediate adjustments):
| Field | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
x_pct | number | Horizontal placement position as a percentage (0-100) of the ladder image width |
y_pct | number | Vertical placement position as a percentage (0-100) of the ladder image height; lower values indicate higher perceived social status |
rung | number | Integer ladder rung 1-10 derived from y_pct (top of the ladder = rung 10, bottom = rung 1), clamped to the 1-10 range |
artifact_filename | string | Filename of the ladder screenshot for this placement (e.g., macarthur_ladder_0_1.png), available under data/media/ in the export; present only when the screenshot was captured successfully |
sequence_index | number | 1-based index of this placement within the session; each new click creates a new record |
is_final | boolean | true on the confirmed/final placement record; false on intermediate placements made before the participant clicks to confirm |
latency_ms | number (on final only) | Time in milliseconds from when the ladder was shown to when the participant confirmed their placement; present only on the is_final: true record |
responded | boolean (on final only) | true when the participant confirmed a placement; false when the moderator advanced without any placement; present only on the is_final: true record |
resize_metadata | object | Display metadata captured at the moment of placement: viewport_width, viewport_height, device_pixel_ratio, rendered_width, rendered_height (the ladder's on-screen size), plus authored_width, authored_height (the ladder image's natural pixel size) and scale_x, scale_y (rendered divided by authored). Because the ladder is a fixed image asset, these authored/scale values are always available. |
The y_pct field on the final placement record is the primary analysis variable. Lower values of y_pct correspond to higher rungs on the ladder (higher perceived social status). Use resize_metadata to interpret placement precision relative to the on-screen ladder size, for example when comparing sessions across very different viewport sizes.
Screenshots: Each placement emits a PNG screenshot (macarthur_ladder_{taskIndex}_{seq}.png) showing the ladder with the participant's marker at the chosen position. These are available under data/media/ in the export and linked via artifact_filename in the response records.
This task does not produce a summary artifact. The placement response records are stored in the responses collection.
Design Recommendations
- Reference Group: The task has no built-in reference-group setting; state the intended reference group (e.g., nation vs. local community) in the instructions text, and use the same wording across all participants for consistency.
- Instructions: Use the standard MacArthur Ladder instructions to ensure comparability with published norms.
- Placement in Study: Place this task early in the session before tasks that might influence self-perception (e.g., after difficult cognitive tasks, participants may rate themselves lower).
- Complement with Objective Measures: Pair with objective SES measures (income, education) to compare subjective and objective status.
Common Issues and Solutions
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Participants unsure what the ladder represents | Ensure instructions clearly describe the top and bottom of the ladder |
| Responses cluster at the middle | This is typical; consider whether a finer scale is needed for your research question |
| Cultural interpretation varies | Specify the reference group clearly; consider pilot testing instructions with your population |
References
- Adler, N. E., Epel, E. S., Castellazzo, G., & Ickovics, J. R. (2000). Relationship of subjective and objective social status with psychological and physiological functioning. Health Psychology, 19(6), 586-592.
- Singh-Manoux, A., Marmot, M. G., & Adler, N. E. (2005). Does subjective social status predict health and change in health status better than objective status? Psychosomatic Medicine, 67(6), 855-861.