Gender and Reaction Time

Gender and reaction time experiment

Abstract:

In this experiment there were ten test subjects, five females and five males, between the ages of 14-16. The reaction times for the males were faster than that of the female but the difference was not large enough to show a connection between gender and reaction time. The hypothesis was correct in stating that the reaction time was dependent on chance rather than gender.

Aim:

To investigate the relationship between gender and reaction time.

Hypothesis:

The reaction time shows no relation to gender but instead raw chance.

Equipment:

30cm (millimetre) wooden ruler

Table

Variables

Dependent variable:

-The test subject

Independent variable:

-Where the ruler is caught

Controlled variable:

-The height between the ruler and the subject’s hand

-The length of the ruler

-Same warning about dropping the ruler at any time

Risk Assessment

To minimize risk a wooden ruler was used to calculate the reaction time as a metal ruler would fall too fast and could burn the test subject’s hands. The risk of splinters was also reduced by checking if there were any splinters or pieces of wood on the ruler.

Method

1. Place your hand above the subjects hand and hold the ruler from that distance away from the test subjects hand.

2. Using a table make sure the distance between the ruler and where the hand is kept the same.

3. Tell the test subject that you will drop the ruler at any time and they would have to catch the ruler as close to the bottom as possible with their thumb and index finger.

4. Drop the ruler at a random time.

5. Record the distance away from 0mm it took for the subject to catch the ruler.

Results:

Observations:

The average for the male tests was higher than that of the female average with a difference of 30.54mm.

Results of reaction time test