REACTION TIME REQUIRED PRACTICAL

• Need 2 people:

  • Person 1 (P1) sits on a CHAIR with good UPRIGHT posture
  • Person 2 (P2) measures the REACTION time
• STEP 1:

  • P1- places FOREARM of DOMINANT arm across the TABLE (hand over the EDGE)
  • P2- holds ruler VERTICALLY (0cm mark should be between THUMB and FIRST finger
  • P2 should tell P1 to PREPARE to catch the RULER, must drop it at a RANDOM time
• STEP 2:

  • After the ruler has been CAUGHT- P2 should RECORD the measurement level with the TOP of P1's THUMB
  • P1 should take a short REST
• STEP 3:

  • REPEAT the experiment SEVERAL times and calculate a MEAN
  • Use a CONVERSION table to turn the MEASUREMENT into the REACTION time
• STEP 4:

  • Each person should SWITCH roles, so that the REACTION time can be COMPARED
• INDEPENDENT VARIABLE:

  • PERSON having the REACTION time tested
• DEPENDENT VARIABLE:

  • REACTION time
• CONTROL VARIABLES:

  • STARTING distance between THUMB and 1st FINGER
  • Should ALWAYS be measured from the TOP of the THUMB
  • Same ROOM conditions e.g. LIGHTING, background NOISES
• HOW COULD THE EXPERIMENT BE CHANGED?

  • Allowing the person to be tested to PRACTICE beforehand
  • Testing both the DOMINANT hand and OTHER hand
  • Testing reaction time with CAFFEINE- cola should be drunk 30 mins before the TEST (should also use CAFFEINE-FREE cola)