Caffeine Research
The Effects of Caffeine 1
The Effects of Caffeine and Placebo on Computer Typing Skills
St. Olaf College
May 14, 2009
The Effects of Caffeine 2
Abstract
This study examined the effects of caffeinated versus caffeine-free CocaCola and Diet Coke on the speed, accuracy, error and words per minute of typing skills. 30 undergraduate students participated in the experiment for academic credit for an introductory to psychology class. The participants consumed their choice of soda and were asked to wait 30 minutes for the caffeine to take effect before conducting the typing test. The Speed Typing Test 2000 was used to perform the actual test as well as used to collect the data for the dependent variables. The results showed no statistical …show more content…
However a control was not put in place to ensure that participants did not consume caffeine before the study. A series of limitations and confounds also present themselves.
The Effects of Caffeine 3
The Effects of Caffeine and Placebo on Computer Typing Skills
Caffeine is one of the most highly consumed psychostimulants to be used in everyday life (James & Rogers, 2005). Much research has been conducted into the effects of caffeine on the body’s physiological responses and reactions. Past studies have also looked at the placebo effect of caffeine. A study conducted by
Flaten and Blumenthal (1999) examined the physiological responses to caffeine related stimuli. The results of the study found a placebo effect for coffee, a substance highly related to caffeine. This study, and many others, provide support that caffeine can produce a repeatable and reliable placebo effect.
This study did not examine the physiological effects of caffeine, however, instead examining the effects of caffeine on motor tasks. Caffeine has been found to increase attention, reaction times, vigilance, and mood (Frewer & Lader, …show more content…
Effect of condition on WPM, accuracy, error and time.
Figure 2 indicates a significant effect of gender on time. Females typed faster than males
(p=.01). The effect of gender on WPM was also significant (p=.01). Females typed faster and had higher WPM than men, but made similar errors, as shown in Figure 3. However the effect of gender on error was not significant (p=.86). There was no significant main effect of gender on accuracy (p=.88).
The effects of caffeine
Figure 2. Effect of gender on time.
Figure 3. Effect of gender on error.
After adding a control condition there was no significant effect of condition on any measure. Figure 4 shows the effect of condition on time in caffeine, control, and decaf groups.
There was no significant difference in accuracy between any condition. Similar results were found for accuracy, error and time.
9
The effects of caffeine
10
Figure 4. The effect of condition on time during Trial 1.
There was no significant effect of order on errors. Each order (C-D and D-C) made more error in Trial 1 than in Trial 2 as shown in Figure 5. In both trials one and two, the
The Effects of Caffeine and Placebo on Computer Typing Skills
St. Olaf College
May 14, 2009
The Effects of Caffeine 2
Abstract
This study examined the effects of caffeinated versus caffeine-free CocaCola and Diet Coke on the speed, accuracy, error and words per minute of typing skills. 30 undergraduate students participated in the experiment for academic credit for an introductory to psychology class. The participants consumed their choice of soda and were asked to wait 30 minutes for the caffeine to take effect before conducting the typing test. The Speed Typing Test 2000 was used to perform the actual test as well as used to collect the data for the dependent variables. The results showed no statistical …show more content…
However a control was not put in place to ensure that participants did not consume caffeine before the study. A series of limitations and confounds also present themselves.
The Effects of Caffeine 3
The Effects of Caffeine and Placebo on Computer Typing Skills
Caffeine is one of the most highly consumed psychostimulants to be used in everyday life (James & Rogers, 2005). Much research has been conducted into the effects of caffeine on the body’s physiological responses and reactions. Past studies have also looked at the placebo effect of caffeine. A study conducted by
Flaten and Blumenthal (1999) examined the physiological responses to caffeine related stimuli. The results of the study found a placebo effect for coffee, a substance highly related to caffeine. This study, and many others, provide support that caffeine can produce a repeatable and reliable placebo effect.
This study did not examine the physiological effects of caffeine, however, instead examining the effects of caffeine on motor tasks. Caffeine has been found to increase attention, reaction times, vigilance, and mood (Frewer & Lader, …show more content…
Effect of condition on WPM, accuracy, error and time.
Figure 2 indicates a significant effect of gender on time. Females typed faster than males
(p=.01). The effect of gender on WPM was also significant (p=.01). Females typed faster and had higher WPM than men, but made similar errors, as shown in Figure 3. However the effect of gender on error was not significant (p=.86). There was no significant main effect of gender on accuracy (p=.88).
The effects of caffeine
Figure 2. Effect of gender on time.
Figure 3. Effect of gender on error.
After adding a control condition there was no significant effect of condition on any measure. Figure 4 shows the effect of condition on time in caffeine, control, and decaf groups.
There was no significant difference in accuracy between any condition. Similar results were found for accuracy, error and time.
9
The effects of caffeine
10
Figure 4. The effect of condition on time during Trial 1.
There was no significant effect of order on errors. Each order (C-D and D-C) made more error in Trial 1 than in Trial 2 as shown in Figure 5. In both trials one and two, the