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Experimental Psychology PSY 433: Ch. 8, PG 207-209 Reaction Time As A Dependent Variable

This chapter discusses reaction time as a dependent variable in experimental psychology. It introduces three types of reaction time tasks: simple reaction time (Donders A), choice reaction time (Donders B), and go/no-go reaction time (Donders C). The subtractive method is used to isolate the separate cognitive processes involved in more complex tasks by subtracting reaction times between tasks. For example, subtracting simple reaction time from go/no-go reaction time isolates stimulus identification time.

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63 views

Experimental Psychology PSY 433: Ch. 8, PG 207-209 Reaction Time As A Dependent Variable

This chapter discusses reaction time as a dependent variable in experimental psychology. It introduces three types of reaction time tasks: simple reaction time (Donders A), choice reaction time (Donders B), and go/no-go reaction time (Donders C). The subtractive method is used to isolate the separate cognitive processes involved in more complex tasks by subtracting reaction times between tasks. For example, subtracting simple reaction time from go/no-go reaction time isolates stimulus identification time.

Uploaded by

Vikas Samota
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Experimental Psychology

PSY 433

Ch. 8, pg 207-209
Reaction Time as a Dependent Variable
Some Terminology
 Dependent variable (DV) – the variable
measured and recorded by the experimenter.
 Independent variable (IV) – the variable
manipulated by the experimenter.
 In an experiment, changing the IV should
produce a corresponding change in the DV,
demonstrating a causal relationship.
 Studies can have multiple DV’s (called
multivariate) or multiple IV’s (called factorial).
Donders Tasks
 S1  R1 Donders A

 S1  R1 Donders B
S2  R2

 S1  R1 Donders C
S2
Measuring RT – Donders A
 The two most common DVs in
experimental psychology are percent
correct and reaction time (RT).
 There are several types of RT
 Reaction time vs response time
 Simple RT (Donders A): the time between
the onset of a stimulus and the onset of a
response.
 Requires time for sensory processing,
nerve conduction, and responding.
Measuring RT – Donders C
 Go NoGo (Donders C): the time between
the onset of one of multiple possible
stimuli and the onset of a response to
only a single one of those stimuli.
 Requires time for all processes in simple
RT plus time for stimulus identification.
Measuring RT – Donders B

 Choice RT (Donders B): the time between


the onset of one of multiple possible
stimuli and the onset of a unique response
to each stimulus.
 Requires time for all processes in simple
RT plus time for stimulus identification and
time for response selection.
Donders A -- Simple

A Reaction Time
(total)

Perceive stimulus and press key


Donders C – Go-No Go

C Reaction Time
(total)

Perceive stimulus, decide if it is the


one requiring you to press a key,
press the key
Isolating and Measuring the Two
Components of the Task
A Reaction Time

C Reaction Time

C Minus A

The two steps (perceive a stimulus and decide


whether to press a key or not) can be separated
and the time needed for each determined by
subtraction.
Donders B -- Choice

B Reaction
Time (total)

C Reaction
Time (total)

B Minus C

Baseline Identification Selection Time


Time
The Subtractive Method

 A: See a stimulus
Press a key
 B: See a stimulus
Identify which one it is
Decide which key to press
Press a key
 C: See a stimulus
Identify which one it is
Press a key or not
Measuring the Separate Parts
 A is the Simple task
 B is the Choice task
 C is the Go-NoGo task
 A is how long it takes to see a stimulus and
press a key.
 To figure out how long it takes to identify the
stimulus, subtract A from C.
 To figure out how long it takes to decide
which key to press, subtract B from C.
Subtractive Method in Experiments
 Define two or more groups (levels of the IV):
 Group 1 – Control group
 Group 2 – Experimental (treatment) group
 Measure both groups
 Subtract Group 2 from Group 1
 The difference is the effect
 The effect is the amount attributable to
whatever happened differently in Group 2.
 If there is no measurable difference between
the two, there is no effect.
Reaction Time Expt (Uncleaned)
Task
Simple Mean P 1 1.042
StDevP 1 1.975
Min P 1 0.253
Max P 1 9.22
N P1 20
SE P 1 0.44
P1
Go/NoGo Mean P 2 0.426
StDevP 2 0.067
Min P 2 0.317
Max P 2 0.53
N P2 20
SE P 2 0.02
P2
Choice Mean P 3 0.477
StDevP 3 0.100
Min P 3 0.301
Max P 3 0.71
N P3 20
SE P 3 0.02
Reaction Time Expt (Cleaned)
Task
Simple Mean P 1 0.343
StDevP 1 0.072
Min P 1 0.253
Max P 1 0.50
N P1 19
SE P 1 0.02
P1
Go/NoGo Mean P 2 0.426
StDevP 2 0.069
Min P 2 0.317
Max P 2 0.53
N P2 19
SE P 2 0.02
P2
Choice Mean P 3 0.454
StDevP 3 0.077
Min P 3 0.301
Max P 3 0.64
N P3 19
SE P 3 0.02

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