Research on Reaction Time
The Effect of Stimulus Type on Reaction Time
Katelin Wagoner
Anderson University
Abstract
Previous studies on reaction time have examined the effects of different kinds of stimuli; this experiment specifically tests reaction time in response to auditory and visual stimuli. The common belief is that an auditory stimulus is faster than visual stimuli. There were 23 participants; 95% were Caucasian, with six males and 17 females. This experiment required participants to respond to either an auditory or visual cue by pressing a button. The data was measured by way of a stop clock. Using a two-tailed dependent t –test to analyze the data, it was found that the critical t was greater than the t obtained resulting in the retention of the null hypothesis. Our findings did not match the findings of previous studies. It was possible that no difference was found because of limitations such as, the participant could hear the experimenter press the button for both auditory and visual conditions; thereby giving a warning cue.
Reaction time and types of studies. Testing of human reaction time has been done for quite some time. Reaction time is described as the time it takes for the brain to process the information and to then react to the object, sound, light, etc stimuli. Two methods by which to test reaction time are with a visual stimulus such as a light and an auditory stimulus such as a buzzer. Prior studies are done to test the speed of a participant’s reaction time, which means to test how quickly they respond in some way to the stimuli. The common belief is that a response to an auditory signal would be faster than that of a visual signal. Using as an example, the sports of swimming and track, the official does not flash a light signaling that the athletes can start; he shoots a gun to make an audible sound. Maybe this is the preferred method because an auditory stimulus only takes 8-10 msec to reach the brain
Katelin Wagoner
Anderson University
Abstract
Previous studies on reaction time have examined the effects of different kinds of stimuli; this experiment specifically tests reaction time in response to auditory and visual stimuli. The common belief is that an auditory stimulus is faster than visual stimuli. There were 23 participants; 95% were Caucasian, with six males and 17 females. This experiment required participants to respond to either an auditory or visual cue by pressing a button. The data was measured by way of a stop clock. Using a two-tailed dependent t –test to analyze the data, it was found that the critical t was greater than the t obtained resulting in the retention of the null hypothesis. Our findings did not match the findings of previous studies. It was possible that no difference was found because of limitations such as, the participant could hear the experimenter press the button for both auditory and visual conditions; thereby giving a warning cue.
Reaction time and types of studies. Testing of human reaction time has been done for quite some time. Reaction time is described as the time it takes for the brain to process the information and to then react to the object, sound, light, etc stimuli. Two methods by which to test reaction time are with a visual stimulus such as a light and an auditory stimulus such as a buzzer. Prior studies are done to test the speed of a participant’s reaction time, which means to test how quickly they respond in some way to the stimuli. The common belief is that a response to an auditory signal would be faster than that of a visual signal. Using as an example, the sports of swimming and track, the official does not flash a light signaling that the athletes can start; he shoots a gun to make an audible sound. Maybe this is the preferred method because an auditory stimulus only takes 8-10 msec to reach the brain
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