Tuesday, October 17, 2017

The effect of knowledge of results on reaction time

The technique of using the Reaction timer was standardised by the investigator giving a practical example before the tests took place. Experimental Design Using the Simple Reaction Timer, two investigations were set up. The first was that the foreperiod of the onset of stimulus was varied for every individual trial so that no learning occurred. The second was set up in exactly the same way but after every trial the recorded reaction time was verbally given to the subject. In the investigation the foreperiod was set variably between 1 and 5 seconds.

The effect of temperature on a rate of reaction

I again had to rely on the naked eye to record the temp. of the thermometer. Also after removing the solution from the Bunsen burner the temp. tended to fluctuate up and down, resulting in the recorded temp. often not being the temp. at which the expt took place. When the solution was poured and measured, it was often not done accurately meaning some solution was lost, so the amount used was not equal to the amount recorded. Unavailability of enough conical flasks and not rinsing the flask properly after each expt. resulted in deposits contaminating the later expts.