diff --git a/utils/jspsych-utils.js b/utils/jspsych-utils.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0e8a605a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/utils/jspsych-utils.js
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+/* utility package for jsPsych */
+
+(function($) {
+
+	jsPsych.utils = (function(){
+		
+		// public methods
+		var public_object = {};
+		
+		// take the hierarchically arranged jsPsych.data object and turn it into
+		// a one-dimensional array where each entry is data from a  single trial
+		// append_data is optional and can be items that should be added to all
+		// trials, such as a subject identifier
+		public_object.flatten_data_object = function(data_object, append_data={})
+		{
+			var trials = [];
+			
+			// loop through data_object
+			for(var i = 0; i < data_object.length; i++)
+			{
+				for(var j = 0; j < data_object[i].length; j++)
+				{
+					var data = $.extend({}, data_object[i][j], append_data);
+					trials.push(data);
+				}
+			}
+			
+			return trials;
+		}
+	
+		return public_object;
+	})();
+	
+)(jQuery);
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