Running Head: REACTION TIME 1
REACTION TIME 18
Reaction Time- Are men or women faster?
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college
class
Date
Reaction Time – Are men or women Faster?
Introduction
Reaction time has a long history of being studied. Reaction times have been studied since the mid 1900’s (Silverman, 2010, para 2). Reaction time is the measure of response to stimulus such as simple tasks. Reaction times vary depending on the type of tasks involved. For instance, “simple reaction time (RT) is shorter than a recognition reaction time, and choice reaction time (CRT) takes even longer because the subject must choose a specific response corresponding to the stimulus” (Norton, Norton, & Lewis, 2016). Reaction time is important in day to day life because speed of response and decision making are very important, especially in emergency situations.
It has been debated whether men or women have faster reaction times to reaction time experiments or whether other factors influence results, such as athleticism or age. There have been many types of experiments on reaction time and the focus varies. In an article testing reaction times in the Olympic games and comparing them to gender specifically, it was found that “Women not participating in the Olympic Games have been reported to exhibit slower simple reaction times than men” (Lipps, Galecki, & Aston-Miller, 2011). There have also been studies that test whether auditory or visual reaction times are faster. In a study conducted with first year medical students, the study showed that in “both sexes the RT to the auditory stimulus was significantly less (P < 0.001) as compared to the visual stimulus” (Jain, Bansal, Kumar, & Singh, 2015).
Simple reaction time is also influenced by the level of physical activity one is involved (Beashel & Taylor, 2001). Men are mainly known to be more physically involved and active than women. According to some scientists, people who are active have a faster simple reaction rate when compared to people who are less involved in activities. Men are known to carry out heavy duties as compared to women who carry out less heavy duties. This in turn, may affect how quickly men and women react to reaction time tasks.
It is hypothesized that men will have a faster reaction time in a simple reaction time task than in women regardless of the age. According to Kosinsky, “males have faster reaction times than females, and female disadvantage is not reduced by practice” (2010, para. 20). This study will test the hypothesis to see if that is correct. With the advancements of science, it has been possible to get a more accurate reading of subjects’ reaction times by using computer software. Computer software has the ability to accurately record how long a participant takes to respond to the given cue. When designing a computerized reaction time task, it is important ...
1. Running Head: REACTION TIME 1
REACTION TIME
18
Reaction Time- Are men or women faster?
name
college
class
Date
Reaction Time – Are men or women Faster?
Introduction
Reaction time has a long history of being studied. Reaction
times have been studied since the mid 1900’s (Silverman, 2010,
para 2). Reaction time is the measure of response to stimulus
such as simple tasks. Reaction times vary depending on the
type of tasks involved. For instance, “simple reaction time
(RT) is shorter than a recognition reaction time, and choice
reaction time (CRT) takes even longer because the subject must
choose a specific response corresponding to the stimulus”
(Norton, Norton, & Lewis, 2016). Reaction time is important in
day to day life because speed of response and decision making
are very important, especially in emergency situations.
It has been debated whether men or women have faster reaction
2. times to reaction time experiments or whether other factors
influence results, such as athleticism or age. There have been
many types of experiments on reaction time and the focus
varies. In an article testing reaction times in the Olympic
games and comparing them to gender specifically, it was found
that “Women not participating in the Olympic Games have been
reported to exhibit slower simple reaction times than men”
(Lipps, Galecki, & Aston-Miller, 2011). There have also been
studies that test whether auditory or visual reaction times are
faster. In a study conducted with first year medical students,
the study showed that in “both sexes the RT to the auditory
stimulus was significantly less (P < 0.001) as compared to the
visual stimulus” (Jain, Bansal, Kumar, & Singh, 2015).
Simple reaction time is also influenced by the level of physical
activity one is involved (Beashel & Taylor, 2001). Men are
mainly known to be more physically involved and active than
women. According to some scientists, people who are active
have a faster simple reaction rate when compared to people who
are less involved in activities. Men are known to carry out
heavy duties as compared to women who carry out less heavy
duties. This in turn, may affect how quickly men and women
react to reaction time tasks.
It is hypothesized that men will have a faster reaction time in a
simple reaction time task than in women regardless of the age.
According to Kosinsky, “males have faster reaction times than
females, and female disadvantage is not reduced by practice”
(2010, para. 20). This study will test the hypothesis to see if
that is correct. With the advancements of science, it has been
possible to get a more accurate reading of subjects’ reaction
times by using computer software. Computer software has the
ability to accurately record how long a participant takes to
respond to the given cue. When designing a computerized
reaction time task, it is important to take into account
differences in things like color preferences. Factors like hand
dominance, age, and gender all affect results. According to
Kalyanshetti, “visual reaction time with red color elicits a faster
3. response when compared to green” (2014).
Roeckelein describes in his book that the women in a study
“reacted slowly to a light reaction time task as compared to men
regardless of the men and women’s age” (2000, pg. 209). This
study takes 160 participants, both men and women, and tests
them on a computer that records the results. Each participant is
tested alone, without interruption. Since this study uses a
simple reaction time (SRT), “there is only one stimulus and one
response” (Kosinsky, 2010, para 1). Participants will hit a key
when the color red appears on the screen. As results are
compared, it will be decided whether there is a difference in the
reaction times of men and women and if men have faster
reaction times in this experiment.
Methods
In order to determine the rate at which men and women respond
to certain stimuli, it is important to consider certain methods
used to collect the data for analysis. Most of these methods are
selected based on previous research methods. The aspect of
reaction times requires effective and efficient methods to come
up with reliable data. Using methods which have not been
proven can provide misleading results. A simple reaction time
(SRT) test is an important technique that will help in
determining the response of the participants. As stated earlier,
the number of participants is 160 and comprises both men and
women. The number of men tested is 79 and that of women is at
81. All participants will be tested separately and as soon as the
participant sees the color on the screen they will have to make a
choice. The computer will play a major role in recording the
reaction time to recognize the color and the ability to make a
choice.
Method1: Simple Reaction Time – this method captures the
ability of the participant to move his or her finger to the buttons
in order to make a choice. Similarly, it gives the reaction of the
participant. The procedure is as follows;
1. Place finger 8cm above button
2. Start the color motion on the screen
4. 3. Record the time it takes to hit the button using the computer
4. Repeat
Method 2: The choice reaction time test – the participant will
have to make a choice and the time taken to make a choice will
be captured by the computer under the choice column. The
procedure is the same as in method 1.
Method 3: the recognition time – the Go/No-Go time is
important and it is given by the time that it takes the
participants to identify the red color as it appears on the screen.
This motor speed will be important since the colors will keep
changing on the screen. The procedure is the same as in method
1.
Results
The experiment has some variables which are quite important.
The gender, age and times of the experiments are some of the
notable variables that are used in the experiment. Based on
these variables, it is easy to determine the level of alertness and
the motor speed of the participants as the red color appears on
the screen. These variables can be explained as follows;
Independent variable – The gender, time, and the times of the
experiment are acting as the independent variables and their
existence in the experiment does not depend on another.
Dependent variable – The dependent variables are the Go/No-
Go, simple and the choice times.
The recorded data is as follows for both men and women.
Male data
Gender
Age
Time in Experiment
Simple
GNG
Choice
M
17
63.862
0.257
36. Simple reaction times for the female
The plots when plotted implies that most of the data at a 95%
significant level (represented by the blue dotted line) will all be
evenly distributed about the mean of 0.694086 (the red line). At
the age 17 the female participants have a simple reaction time
of 0.163351.
The regression analysis implies that the variation between the
values of the Rsq= 25.06% when the significance is take at
0.001
GNG reaction time
The optimization based on a regression analysis shows that at
the age of 17(tallest bar) the females are quick in recognizing
the light. The time it takes is 0.197056.
Choice Reaction Time
At the significance level of 95% and mean time of 0.619852 the
quickest respondents are between the age of 17 and 25 where by
the mean of the response is at 17.
The relationship between the change time and the age is shown
by the following graph.
Also, the report on the choice time vs. age indicates the
dominance occurring and the age of 17 (tallest bar).
Analysis of results the male
The male participants had the following results on the mean and
the standard deviations of the data collected.
Time in Experiment
Simple
40. Total
8883541
236
Simple reaction times for male
The simple, GNG, and choice reaction times are as follows: 17
years in all the cases with means of 0.832519, 0.426342 and
0.500962 respectively.
The distribution of the data about the means is further shown in
this table at 95% significance level.
Furthermore, the choices among the men are distributed as
follows:
Given the significance level of 0.001, the percentage variation
in the values of the SRT and the age is given by Rsq= 59.79 at
the significance level of 95%.
Conclusion
The statistical methods used is quite instrumental in
determining the validity and the reliability of the data obtained
during the experiment of the 160 participants. Furthermore, the
distribution of the dependent variable in the graphs, shows the
data values and the regression. The women in this experiment
have more active and short recognition time of the red light as it
appears on the screen. This implies that women have a better
recognition capability of the light as compared to men. This
experiment also showed that the simple, go/no go, and choice
41. times of the individuals below 25 years is quite quick in both
genders compared to those above 26. In a nutshell, the reaction
times vary significantly based on the gender and the age of the
participants.
References
Beashel, P., Sibson, A., & Taylor, J. (2001). The world of sport
examined. Cheltenham: Nelson Thornes.
Jain, A., Bansal, R., Kumar, A., & Singh, K. D. (2015). A
comparative study of visual and
auditory reaction times on the basis of gender and physical
activity levels of medical
first year students. International Journal of Applied & Basic
Medical Research,5(2),
124-127. doi:10.4103/2229-516X.157168
Kalyanshetti, S. B. (2014). Effect of Colour of Object on
Simple Visual Reaction Time in
Normal Subjects. Journal Of Krishna Institute Of Medical
Sciences (JKIMSU), 3(1), 96-98.
Kosinski, R. J. (2010). A Literature Review on Reaction Time.
Retrieved July 8, 2016, from
http://biae.clemson.edu/bpc/bp/Lab/110/reaction.htm
Lipps, D. B., Galecki, A. T., & Ashton-Miller, J. A. (2011). On
the Implications of a Sex
Difference in the Reaction Times of Sprinters at the Beijing
Olympics. Plos ONE, 6(10), 1-5.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0026141
Norton, K., Norton, L., & Lewis, N. (2016). Effects of Short-
Term Physical Activity
42. Interventions on Simple and Choice Response Times. Biomed
Research International, 1-8 8p. doi:10.1155/2016/5613767
Roeckelein, J. E. (2000). The concept of time in psychology: A
resource book and annotated bibliography. Westport, Conn.
[u.a.: Greenwood Press
Silverman, I. (2010). Simple reaction time: It is not what it used
to be. The Journal of
Psychology,123(1), 39-50. doi:1. Retrieved from
http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5406/amerjpsyc.123.1.0039 doi:1
1st Quartile20.000
Median26.000
3rd Quartile38.000
Maximum55.000
27.08431.854
23.21331.000
9.34312.762
A-Squared2.39
P-Value<0.005
Mean29.469
StDev10.787
Variance116.352
Skewness0.721136
Kurtosis-0.530349
N81
Minimum17.000
Anderson-Darling Normality Test
43. 95% Confidence Interval for Mean
95% Confidence Interval for Median
95% Confidence Interval for StDev
52.545.037.530.022.5
Age
F
r
e
q
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n
c
y
p
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r
G
N
G
t
i
m
e
Median
Mean
323028262422
95% Confidence Intervals
Summary Report for Age
GNG time Vs. Age of female
1st Quartile20.000
Median26.000
3rd Quartile37.000
45. p
l
e
t
i
m
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Median
Mean
323028262422
95% Confidence Intervals
Summary Report for Age_1
simple time vs. age
Predicted Y0.366024Age_117
95% PI(0.16322, 0.56883)
Goal: Minimize GNG_1
Solution
: Optimal Setting
320.46107(0.25999, 0.66216)
340.46674(0.26541, 0.66808)
360.47077(0.26930, 0.67223)
380.47314(0.27164, 0.67465)
400.47387(0.27237, 0.67537)
420.47295(0.27143, 0.67448)
440.47038(0.26868, 0.67209)
460.46617(0.26399, 0.66835)
480.46031(0.25718, 0.66343)
47. 0.1
Age
G
N
G
Prediction Plot
dashed lines show the 95% prediction interval.
The red fitted line shows the predicted Y for any X value. The
blue
To obtain additional predicted values, right-click the graph and
use the crosshairs tool.
Multiple Regression for GNG_1
Prediction and Optimization Report
Regression of GNG
1st Quartile20.000
Median26.000
3rd Quartile37.000
Maximum58.000
26.93531.900
23.00030.664
9.58313.142
A-Squared2.60
P-Value<0.005
Mean29.418
StDev11.082
49. C
h
o
i
c
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t
i
m
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Median
Mean
323028262422
95% Confidence Intervals
Summary Report for Age_1
Choice vs. Age
statistically significant (p < 0.10).
The relationship between Y and the X variables in the model is
YesNo
00.1> 0.5
P < 0.001
model.
59.79% of the variation in Y can be explained by the regression
LowHigh
50. 0%100%
R-sq = 59.79%
for Simple_1.
the X variables that correspond to a desired value or range of
values
Simple_1 for specific values of the X variables, or find the
settings for
If the model fits the data well, this equation can be used to
predict
X1^2, X2^2, X1*X2
X2: Time In Experiment_1
X1: Age_1
relationship between Y and the X variables:
The following terms are in the fitted equation that models the
6
0
4
0
2
0
4
2
0
1
51. 0
0
0
5
0
00
Age_1Time In Expe
Is there a relationship between Y and the X variables?
Comments
Simple_1 vs X Variables
not in the model.
represents an X variable
A gray background
Multiple Regression for Simple_1
Summary Report
% of variation explained by the model
statistically significant (p < 0.10).
The relationship between Y and the X variables in the model is
YesNo
00.1> 0.5
P < 0.001
model.
25.06% of the variation in Y can be explained by the regression
LowHigh
0%100%
52. R-sq = 25.06%
for Simple.
the X variables that correspond to a desired value or range of
values
Simple for specific values of the X variables, or find the
settings for
If the model fits the data well, this equation can be used to
predict
X1: Age
relationship between Y and the X variables:
The following terms are in the fitted equation that models the
6
0
4
0
2
0
5.0
2.5
0.0
1
0
0
53. 0
5
0
00
AgeTime In Expe
Is there a relationship between Y and the X variables?
Comments
Simple vs X Variables
not in the model.
represents an X variable
A gray background
Multiple Regression for Simple
Summary Report
% of variation explained by the model