Investigating Reaction Times
For this investigation we worked in pairs and measured each others
reaction times using the ruler method. By this, we dropped the ruler
from the subjects hand, and measured how quickly they caught it. The
subjects were randomly selected, but the group was large enough to
conclude that the results were reliable. The test was carried out a
few times on each person, then the results were compared.
I belive that the younger subjects will have better reaction times,
because their hand/eye co-ordination is better.
To catch the ruler, our eyes had to be triggered by the movement and
send electrical signals, called impulses, along the sensory neurones
(nerve cells) to the Cerebrum (the part of the brain which controls
conciuos actions and our senses). In turn, the Cerebrum sends impulses
along the motor nerve cells to the muscles which control your finger
and thumb.
We carried out a pilot study to try out the procedure and look for
ways to improve it, which came up with varied results, showing some
people to seemingly react very quickly.Then we looked at what could
affect the results, and refined the method to the investigation. The
fact that the subjects' hands weren't immobile meant that the hand
could be moved to catch the ruler, which would cause better results.
Also, the way the ruler was dropped, for example, different heights
above the hand or sliding the ruler through the fingers (slowing it
down) could affect the results. These are called variables. We then
made the tests the same, by making the subjects rest their hands on
the table, and dropping the rulers quickly from when the nought was
level with the tops of the subjects fingers. We also had all subjects
sitting down.
Then we considered other variables, such as which hand the subject
used, how old they were, what their eyesight was like and what gender
In the experiment, the experimenter was a 20 year old, female, psychology student at Florida State University. The role of the experimenter was to place the dial caliper on the skin of the participant in various places on the palm, finger, forearm, and back in order to record the amount of area needed between the points of the dial caliper before the participant was able to realize that two points were touching the skin rather than one (Lab Manual). The experimenter also used the method of limits through the use of ascending trials in order to record the participant’s ability to discriminate between the two points on the dial caliper (Lab Manual). Three trails were to be conducted by the experimenter before the experiment was to be considered completed. It was essential to ensure that the two points of the dial caliper were touching the participant at the same time and with the same amount
The laboratory experiment gives the experimenter a greater chance to control the conditions and enables you to measure behaviour with greater precision. This method also allows for quantative research and also enables greater control of variables. Although it gives the experimenter greater control, this can also seem daunting to the subject who may feel more uncomfortable and is less likely to ...
Another confound that may impact the results of this study could be the testing effect. Repeated testing may lead to better or worse performance. Changes in performance on the test may be due to prior experience with the test and not to the independent variable. In addition, repeated testing fatigues the subjects, and their performance declines as a result (Jackson, 2012). Because the professor is interested in determining if the implementation of weekly quizzes would improve test scores, an experimenter and/or an instrumentation effect may also affect results.
This report aimed to replicate Stroop's (1935) experiment. Using the repeated measures design and a sample of 20 students, differences in verbal reaction times on two tests were observed. The one-tailed hypothesis predicted that it would take longer to say words in the Cc, this is the conflicting condition where the colour of the word differs from the colour that the word describes. It was found that, using the t-test for related data, this hypothesis could be accepted as the obtained value was much greater then the critical value. It can therefore be concluded that visual interference does affect people's verbal reactions.
Investigating Factors that Affect the Rate of Reaction There are certain factors which affect the rates of reaction in an experiment. These factors are: · Pressure · Temperature · Concentration * Surface area / particle size and * The addition of a catalyst The factors that I will be concentrating on are temperature, concentration and surface area / particle size. Pressure Pressure influences the rate of reaction only when the reactants are in their gas phase. Pressure does not affect them much when they are either solids or liquids.
Although the objectives of the two experiments I discussed were different, result were the same regardless as to what the differences might have been. In all experiment including the one I did, results were concurrent. Findings supported the hypothesis that was set forth: As angular rotation increased, reaction time will also increase. Thus, showing reaction times do serve as an appropriate method for analyzing how quickly the brain reacts to mental rotations of images.
...orrect with the individual subject’s gender or dominant brain hemisphere, but it does measure the effect of both the angle and the object type. There will likely be effects of both the angle and object type on reaction time, due to not only a dissimilarity between the objects and what the subjects are used to seeing, but also because of the unfamiliar nature of the random 2-dimensional figures.
Heart rate is the different intervals of a heart beat and is influenced in the sino-atrial node of the heart by parasympathetic and sympathetic input (Meule, et al., 2012). Heart rate is influenced by a person’s physical conditions, and health (Thayer et al., 2010). Body weight, alcohol, and smoking all influence our heart rate (Thayer et al., 2010; Karason et al., 1999). Our whole lifestyle influences our heart rate. From when we wake up to when we go to sleep, each activity our day has influences whether our heart rate increases or decreases. A data collection worksheet was given to me in a class and I had to fill out a survey and a list of activities. Each student had their information entered into a spreadsheet where I had to then choose two activities. One activity has a higher heart rate than the other and that is what we need to find using the scientific method. I hypothesize that the heart rate before resting is significantly lower than the heart rate when one eats dinner. The steps used in the scientific method is materials and methods, and the results that conclude whether the hypothesis was correct or wrong.
Rates Of Reaction Investigation Plan: This experiment is planned to investigate the rate of reaction when mixing Copper sulphate (CuSO4) with Zinc powder (Zn). My plan is to see what happens before, during and after the reaction takes place. I will need the following equipment to carry out this investigation: Ø A 50ml marked measuring tube Ø A digital precision scale Ø 600ml of copper sulphate Ø A digital thermometer Ø A pot of Zinc powder Ø A sandpaper (to sand the Copper sulphate off the thermometer) Ø A pen and a paper (to record results.)
The experiments were quite simple, in that there was a seemingly harmless task to be performed, and the participants were instructed to choose the estimation of the lengths of a line when compared to two ...
Possible sources of error in this experiment include the inaccuracy of measurements, as correct measurements are vital for the experiment.
There are many factors that influence reaction time that we did not explore in class. Measuring data for this experiment took two classes on two separate days which may have skewed the data. For example, did I get the same amount of sleep on both days? This might have influenced my reaction time because if I didn’t get the same amount of sleep on one of the days, my reaction time might have been slower.
The last one was taken at 12 PM , where the patient had a reaction time of 23 seconds which was the fastest through the day and the average body temperature, which was warmer than the temperature taken at 4 AM ,(98.4 degrees). So in a simpler way of inputting it if a person is colder , their reaction time will be slower , but if warmer it will be quicker. Outside temperature , (which can affect core), will affect reaction time. Generally muscles will become more flexible when it's warmer , rather than it to be colder. While it's warm there will also be increased blood flow, which causes more oxygen to the muscles. So , as said before that will affect reaction time if a person is warmer or
The rate of reaction is how quickly or slowly reactants in chemical reactants turn into products. A low reaction rate is when the reaction takes a long time to take place; hence, a reaction that occurs quickly has a high reaction rate. A rate refers to how slow or quick the product is produced. It is possible to control the rate of chemical reactions and speed up or slow down the rate of chemical reactions by altering three main factors which are temperature, concentration and the surface area. When the temperature of the reactants increases, the molecules vibrate at a more intense speed therefore colliding with each other more frequently and with increased energy resulting in a greater rate of reaction. Accordingly, as the temperature decreases the molecules will move slower, colliding less frequently and with decreased energy resulting in the rate of reaction decreasing. Concentration is how much solute is dissolved into a solution and is also a factor that affects the rate of reaction. When the concentration is greater this means there is an increased amount of reactant atoms and molecules resulting in a higher chance that collisions between molecules will occur. A higher collision rate means a higher reaction rate. Consequently at lower concentrations there are reduced chances of the molecules colliding resulting in a lower reaction rate. The measurement of how much an area of a solid is exposed is called the surface area. The quicker a reaction will occur the more finely divided the solid is. For example, a powdered solid will usually have a greater rate of reaction in comparison to a solid lump that contains the same mass for it has a lower surface area than the powdered solid.
The first experiment that DeVoe and House (2012) conducted was to directly test their hypothesis. The procedure of this experiment was to take 53 undergraduate students (32 femal...