reaction time

• reaction time

  how long it takes you to respond to a stimulus
• Who is conducting the reaction time experiment?

  1. Wford
• What is the purpose of the reaction time experiment?

  To measure how quickly you react to a stimulus
• What materials are needed for the reaction time experiment?

  A chair, meter ruler, table, partner
• What does reaction time measure?

  Time taken to respond to a stimulus
• Why is the weaker hand used in the experiment?

  To ensure consistent measurement conditions
• How should the forearm be positioned during the experiment?

  Across the desk with fingers over the edge
• What should you focus on while waiting for the ruler to drop?

  Staring at a wall across the room
• Where should the zero mark of the ruler be positioned?

  Just above your forefinger
• What should your partner do with the ruler?

  Drop it randomly without warning
• What should you do after each measurement?

  Record the distance traveled in a table
• Why is it important to take a short rest between trials?

  To avoid becoming too accustomed to the ruler's movement
• How many times should you repeat the experiment?

  Ten times
• How do you convert the distance measurements into reaction time?

  Using a conversion table
• What can you compare your results to after the experiment?

  Your partner's results or your own previous results
• What is a common misconception about reaction time?

  A shorter time indicates a better reaction time
• How does distraction affect reaction time in the experiment?

  It slows down your reaction to the ruler
• steps to test effects of caffeine on reaction time

  • person being tested sits with arm resting on table
  • hold rulr vertically above thier thumb and forefinger making sure zero is level with thumb and finger then let go without warning
  • subject shoul try to catch ruler as soon as they see it fall
  • reaction time measure by number on ruler where its caught - take nuber at top of thumb further down its caught the slower reaction time
  • repeat test 10 times then calculate mean distance it fell
  • subject should drink caffeine then wait ten minutes and repeat the experiment and then compare results
• control variables

  • use same hand to catch ruler
  • same person catching
  • ruler dropped from same height
  • same ruler used
• computer test

  • games such as clicking mouse when a stimulus is on screen can measure reaction time
  • give more precise measurement as remove human error
  • more accurate measurement as can record to milliseconds
  • gets rid of possibility that person predicts when to respond - can't interpret body language