from Part IV - Behavioral Measures
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 December 2024
The term reaction time (RT) describes the interval between the initial appearance of a stimulus and an organism’s response to that stimulus. Because RT data are notorious for substantial individual differences and positive skew, the overarching goal of this chapter is to equip researchers with sufficient knowledge to design RT studies that enhance experimental control, thereby reducing unwanted error variability. To accomplish this goal, the chapter discusses five major themes: (1) an overview of the evolution of RT research; (2) a discussion of the state of RT knowledge today, with a focus on moderating variables that researchers could control; (3) a review of some of the most common RT measures employed by contemporary social and behavioral scientists; (4) a description of specific technological tools that can be used to administer those measures; and (5) a discussion of basic considerations for statistical analysis of RT data.
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