University of Perpetual Help System Laguna-JONELTA

Biñan Campus
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

UNIVERSITY OF PERPETUAL HELP SYSTEM LAGUNA – JONELTA

Binan, Laguna

College of Arts and Sciences

In Partial Fulfillment to the Requirements in

Experimental Psychology

EXPERIMENT TITLE:

Simple Reaction Time

PROPOSED BY:

Magano, Alyssa Khae B.

Reyes, Marianne Jane C.

Almazora, Athenna A.

SUBMITTED TO:

Mary Easter Claire Perez Torres

(January 02,2023)

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Abstract … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 3

Introduction … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 4

Method … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 5

Results … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 7

Discussion … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 13

Conclusion … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … .. 14

Appendix … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 15

References … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 18

ABSTRACT

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Reaction time is an important method to study the information processing of a person. Previous
studies were about simple reaction time and its various influencers. This study aims to determine
whether emotional involvement affects the simple reaction time of 2 female college students.
The study consisted of two parts with the 45 trial as the first part and 10 trial as the second part
In the second part, the subjects started and stopped the time in stopwatch. The results showed
different results in both parts of the study. In the first part, it is indicated that emotional
involvement has a significant effect on a person’s simple reaction time. However, in the second
part, the results imply that emotional involvement does not have a significant effect on a
person’s simple reaction time.

INTRODUCTION

Reaction time is a measure of how quickly an organism can respond to a particular stimulus.
Reaction time has been widely studied, as its practical implications may be of great
consequence,

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e.g. a slower than normal reaction time while driving can have grave results. Many factors have
been shown to affect reaction times, including age, gender, physical fitness, fatigue, distraction,
alcohol, personality type, and whether the stimulus is auditory or visual.Sensory neurons
convert a stimulus into an electro-chemical signal, which flows the length of the
sensory neuron(s), then through a neuron or neurons of the central nervous system, and then
through the length of the motor neuron(s). Generally, motor neurons will cause a muscle to
contract or a gland to secrete a substance. Reactions that involve only the receptor, the spinal
cord, and the effector, are faster than those which involve processing in the brain. Reactions
which only travel to, through, and from the spinal cord are often called spinal reflexes or
cordmediated reflexes; withdrawing one’s hand from a hot stove is an example of such a reflex.
In ‘simple reaction time’ experiments, there is only one stimulus and one response. Catching a
dropped stick, or hitting a button when a light changes are examples.
In ‘recognition reaction time’ experiments, there are symbols to respond to and symbols to be
ignored. There is still only one correct stimulus and one response. An example would be
catching a dropped stick with a word cue, while having to ignore other spoken words which are
not cues.
In ‘choice reaction time’ experiments, there are multiple stimuli and multiple responses. The
reaction must correspond to the correct stimulus. Typing a letter which matches a printed letter
prompt is an example of this type of experiment.

METHOD

APPARATUSES

● Mongol #2 Pencil 

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● Short bond paper 

● Short white folder 

● Stopwatch

METHODOLOGY

This experiment is divided into 2 parts, In the first part, the subject is tasked to do the following: 

● The subject is tasked to do free association. 

● Experimenter will record the Before-During-After observed behavior. 

● Subject will discuss any random topics he/she wants to discuss or 12 seconds for each trial.
They need to complete 45 trials. 

● Experimenter will have to cover the recorded reaction time using the short white folder to
prevent the subject from being conscious about the time. 

● Reaction time will be recorded based on the time the subject started talking and until it is
finished estimating 12 seconds per statements. In the second part the subject is tasked to do
the following: 

● The subject will hold the stopwatch to monitor the time. 

● The experimenter will cover the recorded data with the short white folder. 

● This part of the experiment comprises of 10 trials. 

● In each of the trial, the subject will start the timer and stop it once it reaches 12 seconds. 

● The experimenter will record the reaction time of the subject per trial.
The study aimed to determine whether the alertness of the subjects has a relationship on the
accuracy of the subjects reaction time in achieving to aim a certain amount of time to react to a
certain stimulus, below are two hypothesis that were produced by the experimenters:

Ho: Subjects alertness not affected the person’s alertness

H1: Subjects alertness affected the persons alertness

This study focused on observing the SRT of the subjects. To accomplish the purpose of the
study, the researcher will answer the following guide questions below after the experiment:

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What is Simple Reaction Time? Simple reaction time (SRT), the minimal time needed to
respond to a stimulus, is a basic measure of processing speed.

Who are the proponents of Simple Reaction Time? Francis Galton

What are the factors that affect Simple Reaction Time? Gender, age, physical fitness, level of
fatigue, distraction, alcohol, personality type, limb used for test, biological rhythm, and health

What causes the person to have delayed and fast reaction? Illness or disease

Table 1. Simple Reaction Time and Reaction Time Difference of Subject A and Subject B with
Mean Score and T-test Score
Reaction Reaction
No. of Subject Time Subject Time
Trial A Difference B Difference  
1 22.74 10.74 24.01 12.01  
2 23.55 11.55 25.77 13.77  
3 33.58 21.58 13.35 1.35  
4 20.73 8.73 12.07 0.07  
5 20.03 8.03 12.1 0.1  
6 10.98 -1.02 9.61 -2.39  
7 17.94 5.94 15.39 3.39  
8 34.01 22.01 22.55 10.55  
9 33.92 21.92 17.48 5.48  
10 6.95 -5.05 20.06 8.06  
11 9.21 -2.79 15.66 3.66  
12 12.89 0.89 34.24 22.24  
13 11.89 -0.11 21.6 9.6  
14 19.01 7.01 14.21 2.21  
15 17.92 5.92 17.37 5.37  
16 26.45 14.45 31.95 19.95  
17 17.21 5.21 10.33 -1.67  
18 21.18 9.18 15.77 3.77  
19 13.18 1.18 11.12 -0.88  
20 30.04 18.04 18.85 6.85  
21 24.01 12.01 22.38 10.38  
22 30.83 18.83 34.06 22.06  
23 9.61 -2.39 32.46 20.46  
24 13.2 1.2 30.91 18.91  
25 15.66 3.66 30.83 18.83  
26 29.61 17.61 30.68 18.68  

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27 30.77 18.77 13.3 1.3  

28 9.45 -2.55 19.43 7.43  
29 18.64 6.64 16.25 4.25  
30 10.33 -1.67 9.17 -2.83  
31 14.42 2.42 18.63 6.63  
32 27.8 15.8 22.06 10.06  
33 14.61 2.61 24.49 12.49  
34 23.04 11.04 36.14 24.14  
35 24.29 12.29 14.44 2.44  
36 26.04 14.04 29.46 17.46  
37 41.81 29.81 20.28 8.28  
38 18.54 6.54 24.23 12.23  
39 9.68 -2.32 22.99 10.99  
40 9.07 -2.93 33.9 21.9  
41 8.07 -3.93 22.52 10.52  
42 9.88 -2.12 34.94 22.94  
43 6.48 -5.52 22.35 10.35  
44 7.72 -4.28 16.27 4.27  
45 4.94 -7.06 32.52 20.52  
30.7091 21.7373
Mean 1   3    
0.09490
T-test         3

Table 1 depicts the tallied results for the first phase of the experiment where in the subjects

formed free associations among the forty-five trials of their estimated twelve-second intervals.

As the result shows that the gap between the result of the subjects reaction time is a little closer.

Figure 1. Simple Reaction Time of Subject A and Subject B to 45-trial Experiment

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Blue- Subject A
Orange- Subject B
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45

Figure 1 shows the column graph presentation of the simple reaction time of Subject A and

Subject B to the forty-five trial experiment. The graph shows that both Subject is almost close.

Table 2. Simple Reaction Time and Reaction Time Difference of Subject A and Subject B

with Mean Score and T-test Score

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Reaction Reaction
Time Time
No. of Subject Differenc Subject Differenc
Trial A e B e  
1 12.12 0.12 11.95 -0.05  
2 12.06 0.06 12.15 0.15  
3 11.94 -0.06 12.57 0.57  
4 14.21 2.21 12.2 0.2  
5 12.23 0.23 12.14 0.14  
6 11.74 -0.26 12.1 0.1  
7 11.83 -0.17 12.25 0.25  
8 12.11 0.11 12.63 0.63  
9 11.9 -0.1 12.53 0.53  
10 12.05 0.05 12.47 0.47  
Mean 12.219   12.299    
0.74038
T-test         2

Table 2 indicates the subjects measurement in the required time;twelve seconds using the

stopwatch. Subject A does not have an accurate reaction time but there is not much of a gap

from the said required time.

Figure 2. Simple Reaction Time of Subject A and Subject B to 10-Trial Experiment

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Blue-Subject A
Orange-Subject B
16

14

12

10

0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

The graph in Figure 2 shows subjects A and B’s simple times in seconds to the experiments ten

trials. Even though both subjects have a stopwatch in their hands, Subject A does not reach 12

seconds stimulus whereas Subject B corresponds to twelve seconds.

Table 3. T-test Result of Subject A and Subject B to 45-Trial Experiment

t-Test: Two-Sample Assuming Equal Variances

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Variabl Variabl
  e1 e2
6.7091 9.7373
Mean 11 33
82.446 62.334
Variance 33 4
Observations 45 45
72.390
Pooled Variance 37
Hypothesized Mean
Difference 0
df 88
-
1.6882
t Stat 6
0.0474
P(T<=t) one-tail 51
1.6623
t Critical one-tail 54
0.0949
P(T<=t) two-tail 03

Table 3 illustrates the T-test result of Subject A and Subject B to the experiment of 45 tirals

wherein each subject was aware of the time. It shows that t Stat od -1.68826 is less than the

critical value of 1.662. This means that the researcher must reject the null hypothesis that being

observed influences the consistency of response to simple reaction time.

Table 4. T-test Result of Subject A and Subject B to 10-Trial Experiment

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t-Test: Two-Sample Assuming Equal Variances

Variable Variable
  1 2
0.33777
Mean 0.23 8
0.04391
Variance 0.57365 9
Observations 9 9
0.30878
Pooled Variance 5
Hypothesized Mean
Difference 0
df 16
-
t Stat 0.41144
0.34310
P(T<=t) one-tail 4
1.74588
t Critical one-tail 4
0.68620
P(T<=t) two-tail 8
2.11990
t Critical two-tail 5  

Table 4 shows the t-test findings for Subject A and B in a ten trial experiment in which each

subject was fully aware of time. The t-stat value of 0.41144 than the t-critical value of 1.745884,

implying that the reasearcher must accept the null hypothesis.

DISCUSSION

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The experiment consisted of two female subjects. By with holding the gathered data from the

subjects during and after experiment, the experiment was able to examine how time

consciousness affected the reaction time of the subjects. Subject A, who was at first to begin the

experiment, the subject appeared a bit embarrassed before the experiment began, and was in fact

the first volunteer for the experiment. During the experiment the subject still thinking about what

she’s going to say. Subject A expressing that they were running out of things to say, substituting

motioning of their hands. Subject A’s longest recorded reaction time for the first half of the

experiment was 34.01 seconds, the shortest time being 04.94 seconds. Before and during the

second half of the experiment proper, the subject was not aware of the time elapsed. After the

experiment Subject A continued to be calm and more relaxed.

Subject B, on the other hand, slow to tell stories on the activity. Prior to the first part of the

experiment, the subject was quite and observant, waiting for their turn. During the experiment

the subject was slow to tell stories. After the experiment, Subject B was smiling and happy. In

the first half of the experiment, Subject B obtained the longest time of 34.94 seconds and the

shortest time of 09.16 seconds. Before the experiment the subject was laughing around.

CONCLUSION

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This study aimed to see whether alertness could affect a person’s reaction time, the findings

stated that the assumed hypothesis did not match the result of the study, alternative hypothesis

and accepted the null hypothesis of not including alertness as a factor to affect a person’s

reaction time. To conclude, this research gave evidence that alertness could not affect a person’s

reaction time. The tool Free Association that was used could be one of the factors that may have

caused the subject to have an inaccurate guess for the subject to reach an exact amount of time to

finish talking by the twelve seconds. The evidence suggests that there could be many other

different factors to affect a person’s accuracy in reaction time.

APPENDIX

Appendix A: Letter of Consent

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I’m (Magano, Alyssa Khae Borais), a 2nd Year BS Psychology student from University of

Perpetual Help System Binan-Campus. I am inviting you to participate in a research study.

Involvement in the study is voluntary, so you may choose to participate or not. We are now

going to explain the study to you please feel free to ask questions that you may have about the

experiment; I will be happy to explain anything in greater detail.

I am interested in learning more about simple reaction time. You will be asked to do a free

association that is going to be estimated within 12 seconds. This will take approximately 30-50

minutes of your time. All information will be kept. anonymous and confidential, this means that

your name will not be appear anywhere and no one except us will know about your specific

answers. If confidential, we will assign a number to your responses and only we will have the

key to indicate which number belongs to which participant. In any articles, we write or any

presentations that we make, we will use a made-up name for you, and we will not reveal details,

nor we will change details about where you work, where you live any personal information

about you and so on, so forth.

Participant - “All of my questions and concerns about this study have been addressed I choose

voluntarily to participate in this research project. I am certifying that I am at least 18 years of age

and have signed with the experiments.

Appendix B: Apparatuses

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Mongol Pencil #2 Stopwatch

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Short bond paper Short white folder

Appendix C: Subjects

Subject A

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Subject B

REFERENCES

Website

Annett, M., and Annett, J. (1979). Individual differences in right and left reaction time. Br.

J. Psychol. 70, 393–404. doi: 10.1111/j.2044-8295.1979.tb01709.x

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