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

SUBMITTED BY:

Apawan, Cathlyne Joy S.

SUBMITTED TO:

Mary Easter Claire Perez Torres

January 26, 2024

1
 University of Perpetual Help System Laguna-JONELTA
Biñan Campus
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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

Introduction … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 4 - 5

Method … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …6 - 7

Results … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …8- 14

Discussion … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 15 - 16

Conclusion … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … ... 17

Appendix … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 18 - 20

References … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 21

2
 University of Perpetual Help System Laguna-JONELTA
Biñan Campus
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to measure and analyze the responses of two participants

involved in a 2 part interview to test the level of awareness with and without intake of sweet

treats. One interviewee referred as Subject A proceeded to the interview without consuming a

sweet treat. While the other interviewee referred as Subject B consumes a sweet treat before the

experiment to show the effect on Simple Reaction Time. Further research is required to clarify

the relationship between nutrition and cognitive function in order to optimize cognitive tasks.

Different in age and backgrounds, participants A and B respond to a standard visual stimulus by

narrating an unscripted story about any thing that comes to their mind. Their response will be

confidential and will be recorded by the experimenter.

3
 University of Perpetual Help System Laguna-JONELTA
Biñan Campus
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

INTRODUCTION

A Simple Reaction Time (SRT) experiment was built to know the human mind's

relationship between perception and action. It uses the time it takes for a single subject to

construct an unprepared response. Psychologists like Francis Galton conducted the first SRT

tests in the late 19th century (Woods et al., 2015), which are considered the most basic

examination of the processing speed of the human mind. Additionally, SRT attracted increased

attention in the psychology community as researchers studying human cognition included

psychologists like Wilhelm Wundt. Researchers use a range of experimental prototypes to

measure and analyze SRT. Understanding SRT can aid in understanding a subject's neural

transmission, information processing, and motor response mechanisms.

Self-awareness has long been seen by practitioners and researchers as both a primary

means of alleviating psychological distress and the path of self-development for psychologically

healthy individuals, while more recently an extensive review has demonstrated that different

aspects of self-awareness, including mindfulness and rumination, mediate the impact of

mindfulness-based interventions on mental health outcomes (Gu, Strauss, Bond, & Cavanagh,

2015).

The purpose of this study is to determine whether a subject's level of awareness with and

without intake of sweet treats affects the subject's simple reaction time. The researcher conduct

an experiment into two subjects to know the level of awareness to STR, the two subjects

referred as Subjects A and Subjects B, both subjects comes from University of Perpetual Help

System Jonelta, Subject A aged 54 was a Guard on duty while Subject B aged 19 was a first year

4
 University of Perpetual Help System Laguna-JONELTA
Biñan Campus
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

student pursuing Bachelor of Science in Tourism. The researcher conducts a consent

letter showing Subjects B needs to consume a sweet treat before conducting the interview to

match the researcher hypothesis.

Previous evidence stated that, globally, young adults tend to have lower diet quality than

other age groups, which is associated with major life transitions during this period implicit

attitudes and autonomous motivation to reduce sugar consumption was shown to have a

significant effect, albeit small, on sugar consumption (Hagger et al., 2017).

In addition Previous qualitative studies with college students have already identified

some factors associated with the high consumption of specific high-sugar products, Miller et al.

(2020) showed that participants had little knowledge about sugar content and sugar intake

recommendations. For instance, although participants acknowledged that beverages like sodas

and energy drinks are high in sugar, and that sugar content may vary according to the product,

accurate identification of sugar content for any beverage type was scant. (Prada et al., 2021)

The experimenter wants to know if there was a significant difference in level of

awareness with and without intake of sweet treats in woman adults full time and in a young adult

student to their Simple Reaction Time.

5
 University of Perpetual Help System Laguna-JONELTA
Biñan Campus
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

METHOD

The selected subjects for this experiment were a working adult (Subject A) and a student

young adult (Subject B); Subject A was a 51-year-old female, and Subject B was a 19-year-old

female (Appendix B).

The materials needed for this experiment are a two mongol pencil, a few short pieces of

bond paper, a cell phone to act as the experiment's stopwatch (Appendix A), and a consent letter

(Appendix C).

In this two-part experiment, the relationship between simple reaction time and the verbal

communication process of free association was investigated. During the 45 trials, approximately

lasting 12 seconds, participants in the first part (part 1) of the experiment talk about any random

topic that comes to mind. Subject B who ate a donut before the interview, different from Subject

A who did not, is something the experimenter looks into. For the second part (Part 2), the

experiment consists of ten (10) trials. The subjects in this section are tasked to try to stop the

timer at exactly twelve (12) seconds. In each trial, to measure the simple reaction time of the

subjects, the experimenter must record the time at which the subjects were able to stop the timer.

In both trials, The experimenter will cover the recorded reaction time The records of the

experiment must be written down on a short bond paper with a mongol pencil with a short white

folder in order to remove the influence of conscious awareness of time when measuring reaction

time. The experiment took place, first in a working place with a lot of distractions, such as noise

surrounding Subject A and second in a well ventilated and quiet room for Subject B. Both

6
 University of Perpetual Help System Laguna-JONELTA
Biñan Campus
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

procedures lasted for at least an hour and half. Each subject must be given a consent letter before

proceeding into the experiment. Understanding the cognitive mechanisms underlying verbal

expression and any possible connections to reaction time may be gained from this research.

The study's null hypothesis indicates that there was not a significant difference in level of

awareness with and without intake of sweet treats in an adult that works full time and in a young

adult student to their Simple Reaction Time. By the time the study concluded, the researcher

anticipated that the subjects' level of awareness with and without intake of sweet treats during the

tasks they completed while consuming the sweet treat would have an impact on their improved

simple reaction time.

After the experiment, the researcher must be able to answer the following guide questions

for discussion:

1. What is Simple Reaction Time?

2. Who are the proponents of Simple Reaction Time?

3. What are the factors that affect Simple Reaction Time?

4. What causes the person to have a delayed and fast reaction?

7
 University of Perpetual Help System Laguna-JONELTA
Biñan Campus
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

RESULTS

Trial Subject A Reaction Time Difference Subject B Reaction Time Difference

1 66.1 54.1 24.18 12.18

2 22.35 10.35 12.27 0.27

3 19.10 7.1 12.24 0.24

4 17.73 5.73 11.61 -0.39

5 18.26 6.26 29.29 17.29

6 20.53 8.53 5.37 -6.63

7 14.42 2.42 19.72 7.72

8 15.96 3.96 56.32 44.32

9 14 2 14.23 2.23

10 11.25 -0.75 15.87 3.87

11 13.22 1.22 13.93 1.93

12 9.73 -2.27 12.95 0.95

13 16.51 4.51 23.2 11.2

14 12.18 0.18 16.65 4.65

15 11.11 -0.89 28.6 16.6

16 18.46 6.46 31.07 19.07

17 23.18 11.18 34.9 22.9

18 11.70 -0.3 26 14

19 8.93 -3.07 21.03 9.03

20 30.60 18.6 15.7 3.7

21 11.93 -0.07 22.69 10.69

22 19.25 7.25 13.67 1.67

8
 University of Perpetual Help System Laguna-JONELTA
Biñan Campus
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

23 13.35 1.35 12.98 0.98

24 10.88 -1.12 19.41 7.41

25 20.97 8.97 15.56 3.56

26 8 -4 14.07 2.07

27 10.42 -1.58 14.46 2.46

28 13.34 1.34 15.16 3.16

29 9.63 -2.37 20.45 8.45

30 35.75 23.75 15.44 3.44

31 23.58 11.58 7.4 -4.6

32 7.17 -4.83 14.29 2.29

33 9.87 -2.13 13.65 1.65

34 20.27 8.27 8.34 -3.66

35 22.31 10.31 11.91 -0.09

36 15.91 3.91 16.3 4.3

37 11.82 -0.18 12.57 0.57

38 21.20 9.2 15.85 3.85

39 9.53 -2.47 12.15 0.15

40 17.95 5.95 11.74 -0.26

41 17.22 5.22 16.04 4.04

42 16.6 4.6 11.59 -0.41

43 21.93 9.93 13.31 1.31

44 59.37 47.37 6.52 -5.48

45 25.19 13.19 12.67 0.67

Mean Score 6.416888889 Mean Score 5.185555556

t-Test Score 0.565682116

9
 University of Perpetual Help System Laguna-JONELTA
Biñan Campus
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Table 1 Simple Reaction Time and Reaction Time Difference in part 1 experiment of Subject A

and Subject B with Mean Score and T-Test Score.

Table 1 shows recorded score results of the two participants that underwent forty-five trials of

the free association with the approximation of the twelve second intervals. Subject A and Subject

B are not aware of the amount of time consumed while the first experiment starts. As a result

Subject A has a total of the mean score of 6.416888889. While Subject B obtained a total of

5.185555556 mean score.

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

Figure 1 displays the data collected during the first half of the experiment from Subjects A and B

on a graph. As the experiment progresses, it becomes clear that Subject A shows a higher score

10
 University of Perpetual Help System Laguna-JONELTA
Biñan Campus
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

in the first trial, as the experiment continues, Subject B can be observed to have a high

score in the middle part of the experiment. While Subject A tried to stay in the same phase she

did in the beginning, when near to the end of the trial, Subject A ignored the 12-second mark and

became more relaxed and comfortable, exceeding her simple reaction significantly. In contrast,

as the experiment was almost over, Subject B became more conscious of the 12-second time

limit. However, Subject B did not surpass the 12-second time limit in the 44th trial, suggesting

subjects impatient and eager to complete the experiment.

Trial Subject A Reaction Time Difference Subject B Reaction Time Difference

1 12.44 0.44 11.9 -0.1

2 12.13 0.13 12.11 0.11

3 12.29 0.29 12.23 0.23

4 12.49 0.49 12.24 0.24

5 12 0 12.42 0.42

6 12.26 0.26 12.02 0.02

7 12.43 0.43 12.93 0.93

8 12.05 0.05 12.17 0.17

9 11.55 -0.45 12.08 0.08

10 12.66 0.66 12.29 0.29

Mean 0.23 Mean 0.239

t-Test Score 0.947276857

11
 University of Perpetual Help System Laguna-JONELTA
Biñan Campus
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Table 2. Simple Reaction Time and Reaction Time Difference in part 2 experiment of Subject A

and Subject B with Mean Score and T-Test Score.

Displays the combined score results for the two individuals who completed ten stopwatch

experiment trials using approximately twelve-second intervals. Subject A and Subject B are

aware of the amount of time consumed while the second experiment starts. Both subjects

completed the ten trials, Subject A with a mean score of 0.23 on the other hand, Subject B took a

mean reaction time of 0.239.

Figure 2. Simple Reaction Time of Subject A and Subject B to 45 Trial Experiment

The data gathered from Subjects A and B during the second half, the 10 trial experiment, is

displayed on the graph. Both of the subjects in this trial, hold the timer in their own hands and

monitor the time when to stop it. Subject A's reaction time data is lower than Subject B's, who

reached higher.

12
 University of Perpetual Help System Laguna-JONELTA
Biñan Campus
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

t-Test: Two-Sample Assuming Equal Variances

Subject 1 Subject 2

Mean 6.416888889 5.185555556

Variance 130.0315083 76.04457071

Observations 45 45

Pooled Variance 103.0380395

Hypothesized Mean Difference 0

df 88

t Stat 0.575397674

P(T<=t) one-tail 0.283245396

t Critical one-tail 1.662354029

P(T<=t) two-tail 0.566490791

t Critical two-tail 1.987289865

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

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

trials wherein each subject was unaware of the time. It can be observed that the t-stat of

0.575397674 is less than the t-critical value of 1.662354029 which means that the researcher

must accept the null hypothesis that the level of awareness with intake of sweet treat has no

effect on their simple reaction time.

13
 University of Perpetual Help System Laguna-JONELTA
Biñan Campus
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

t-Test: Two-Sample Assuming Equal Variances

Subject 1 Subject 2

Mean 0.23 0.239

Variance 0.099866667 0.080276667

Observations 10 10

Pooled Variance 0.090071667

Hypothesized Mean Difference 0

df 18

t Stat -0.067055347

P(T<=t) one-tail 0.473638429

t Critical one-tail 1.734063607

P(T<=t) two-tail 0.947276857

t Critical two-tail 2.10092204

Table 4 exhibits the T-test result of Subject A and Subject B to the experiment composed of 10

trials

Table 4 shows each subject was unaware of the time. It can be observed that the t-stat of

-0.067055347 is less than the t-critical value of 1.734063607 which means that the researcher

must accept the null hypothesis that the level of awareness with intake of sweet treat has no

effect on their simple reaction time.

14
 University of Perpetual Help System Laguna-JONELTA
Biñan Campus
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

DISCUSSION

The researcher has recorded the subjects' pre-, during-, and post-experiment states

throughout the entire experiment. Subject B is calm, cheerful, and hesitant to take on the tasks

given to her before the experiment, whereas Subject A is seen to be feeling happy and excited.

Subject A attempts to remain in the same phase in the middle of the trial, maintaining eye

contact and body language with the researcher while amusing guests and background noises

despite Subject A's duty as a guard. As the experiment goes on, Subject A continuously narrates

a story in the first trial of the experiment, unaware of the 12-second limit. However, Subject B is

conscious of the 12-second time limit at the start of the experiment. She displays cheerful

gestures but also hesitation because she is unsure of what to say. Subject B attempts to ask for

help from Subject B's friend who is seated close to the experimenter, but grows a bit stiffer and

avoids making eye contact with the researcher.

Both subjects show strong eagerness to complete the experiment by the end of the trials.

Subject A keeps questioning the number of trials left after learning that the trial is coming to an

end and is unaware of the time limit while Subject B did not surpass the 12-second time limit in

the 44th trial, suggesting subjects are impatient and eager to complete the experiment.

A Simple Reaction Time (SRT) experiment was built to know the human mind's

relationship between perception and action. It uses the time it takes for a single subject to

construct an unprepared response. Psychologists like Francis Galton conducted the first SRT

tests in the late 19th century, which are considered the most basic examination of the processing

15
 University of Perpetual Help System Laguna-JONELTA
Biñan Campus
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

speed of the human mind. Additionally, SRT attracted increased attention in the

psychology community as researchers studying human cognition included psychologists like

Wilhelm Wundt. Researchers use a range of experimental prototypes to measure and analyze

SRT. Understanding SRT can aid in understanding a subject's neural transmission, information

processing, and motor response mechanisms.

In the researcher’s study, the level of awareness with and without intake of sweet treats

does not automatically increase a person's reaction time. Both participating subjects have been in

different levels of awareness during the experiment, Subject A having a lower level of awareness

in time than Subject B awareness during the first moments of the trial. Then suddenly shift to

Subject A being more observant in time despite the distraction in surroundings compared to

Subject B who is in a rushing situation and has a hesitant attitude. Both subjects have

inconsistent recorded time throughout the two part experiment, having different reaction times on

the 45-trial experiment and 10-trial experiment.

16
 University of Perpetual Help System Laguna-JONELTA
Biñan Campus
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

CONCLUSION

The researcher concluded that a person's simple reaction time is not affected by both with and

without the consumption of sweets to their level of awareness, It shows how a person can still

have poor reaction times without the use of a sweet treat. Although a person's level of awareness

both with and without the consumption of sweet treats does not increase reaction time, it can

nevertheless influence an individual's simple reaction time. Future researchers studying the

impact of different levels of awareness with and without the consumption of sweet treats on an

individual's simple reaction time can use this study as a guide and reference.

17
 University of Perpetual Help System Laguna-JONELTA
Biñan Campus
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

APPENDIX A: APPARATUS

Mongol 2 Pencil Pieces of Bond Paper

Folder Stop

18
University of Perpetual Help System Laguna-JONELTA
Biñan Campus
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

APPENDIX B: Subject and Documentation

Subject A

Subject B

19
University of Perpetual Help System Laguna-JONELTA
Biñan Campus
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

APPENDIX C: Letter of Consent

20
 University of Perpetual Help System Laguna-JONELTA
Biñan Campus
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

REFERENCES

Woods, D. L., Wyma, J. M., Yund, E. W., Herron, T. J., & Reed, B. R. (2015, March 26). Factors

influencing the latency of simple reaction time. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.

https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2015.00131

Gu, J., Strauss, C., Bond, R., & Cavanagh, K. (2015, April 1). How do mindfulness-based

cognitive therapy and mindfulness-based stress reduction improve mental health and wellbeing?

A systematic review and meta-analysis of mediation studies. Clinical Psychology Review.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2015.01.006

Prada, M., Godinho, C., Garrido, M., Rodrigues, D. L., Coelho, I., & Lopes, D. (2021, April 1).

A qualitative study about college students’ attitudes, knowledge and perceptions regarding sugar

intake. Appetite. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2020.105059

21