Accuracy of a MinuteAccuracy of a Minute

Alexis, Colleen, Michelle, Alexis, Colleen, Michelle, Jeff, and MelissaJeff, and Melissa

IntroductionIntroductionTIME FLIES WHEN YOU EXPECT TO HAVE FUN.

AN EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF THERELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EXPECTANCIES AND

THE PERCEPTION OF TIME PROGRESSIONMadalina L. SUCALA1*, Simona STEFAN1,

Aurora SZENTAGOTAI-TATAR2, Daniel DAVID1, 3

One article that was relevant to our experiment One article that was relevant to our experiment was about the perception of time. This study was about the perception of time. This study investigated the relationship between time investigated the relationship between time perception expectancies, the perception of time perception expectancies, the perception of time progression, and the perceived hedonic value of a progression, and the perceived hedonic value of a task in a virtual reality environment. task in a virtual reality environment.

This experiment was designed to test the hypothesis that the This experiment was designed to test the hypothesis that the perception of time progression is affected by the temporal perception of time progression is affected by the temporal expectancies that people have. expectancies that people have.

Researchers expected that manipulating hedonic expectancies Researchers expected that manipulating hedonic expectancies would affect passage of time judgments, so that people who are would affect passage of time judgments, so that people who are led to believe that their experience will be enjoyable will evaluate led to believe that their experience will be enjoyable will evaluate time as passing faster than the people who expect to feel bored.time as passing faster than the people who expect to feel bored.

37 participants were spilt into two groups. In one group the 37 participants were spilt into two groups. In one group the

participants were told that they were going to be going on the participants were told that they were going to be going on the computer and the exercise was going to be fun and exciting. In computer and the exercise was going to be fun and exciting. In the second group the participants were told that the exercise was the second group the participants were told that the exercise was uninteresting and boring but to try and remain focused. uninteresting and boring but to try and remain focused.

They were timed for 300 seconds and then had to judge on a 5 They were timed for 300 seconds and then had to judge on a 5 point Likert type scale whether time flew and if time dragged. point Likert type scale whether time flew and if time dragged. Low ratings indicated an accelerated time passage and high Low ratings indicated an accelerated time passage and high ratings indicated slower time passageratings indicated slower time passage

Participants also had to estimate how long they thought the task Participants also had to estimate how long they thought the task was. was.

For the measures of time perception, For the measures of time perception, results indicated that time seems to pass results indicated that time seems to pass more quickly in the enjoyment more quickly in the enjoyment expectancies condition than in the expectancies condition than in the boredom expectancies condition. boredom expectancies condition.

When it came to estimating the amount of When it came to estimating the amount of time, there were no significant differences time, there were no significant differences between the two groups. The results between the two groups. The results suggest that people evaluate time as suggest that people evaluate time as passing more quickly or slowly if they passing more quickly or slowly if they expect to have a enjoyable or boring task.expect to have a enjoyable or boring task.

Effect of repeated exposures to cold on cognitive Effect of repeated exposures to cold on cognitive performance in humansperformance in humans

Tiina M. Mäkinen, Lawrence A. Palinkas, Dennis L. Tiina M. Mäkinen, Lawrence A. Palinkas, Dennis L. Reeves, Tiina Pääkkönen, Hannu Rintamäki , Juhani Reeves, Tiina Pääkkönen, Hannu Rintamäki , Juhani

Leppäluoto, and Juhani HassiLeppäluoto, and Juhani Hassi

Effects of repeated exposure to cold temperature on Effects of repeated exposure to cold temperature on cognitive performance were examined cognitive performance were examined

10 male subjects10 male subjects To assess perfoemance, ANAM-ICE was administeredTo assess perfoemance, ANAM-ICE was administered Assessed: Attention and concentration, mental flexibility, Assessed: Attention and concentration, mental flexibility,

spatial processing, cognitive processing, mood, arousal, spatial processing, cognitive processing, mood, arousal, and memory.and memory.

Tested various cognitive abilitiesTested various cognitive abilities IIndividual tests shows significant results that cognitive IIndividual tests shows significant results that cognitive

ability is worse in cold temperature. ability is worse in cold temperature. 

HypothesisHypothesis

Accuracy of subjects’ time perception are Accuracy of subjects’ time perception are influenced by temperature stressinfluenced by temperature stress

(warm inside and cold outside)(warm inside and cold outside)

IV- Accuracy of TimeIV- Accuracy of TimeDV- Temperature DV- Temperature

MethodsMethods

ParticipantsParticipants 14 male and female students enrolled in a 14 male and female students enrolled in a

Research Methods and Data Analysis class Research Methods and Data Analysis class at Ramapo College of New Jersey at Ramapo College of New Jersey participated in the present study. Subjects participated in the present study. Subjects were third and fourth year psychology were third and fourth year psychology majors. A with-in subject’s research design majors. A with-in subject’s research design with repeated measures was used. with repeated measures was used. Subjects were tested randomly on an Subjects were tested randomly on an individual basis. individual basis.

Materials andProceduresMaterials andProceduresTrial 1: IndoorTrial 1: Indoor Four small computer labs (A, B, C, D) inside of a classroom hosted the current Four small computer labs (A, B, C, D) inside of a classroom hosted the current

experiment. The doors to the small computer labs were closed to eliminate experiment. The doors to the small computer labs were closed to eliminate confounds such as peer influence, and background noise. Four randomly selected confounds such as peer influence, and background noise. Four randomly selected participants were tested at one time; one participant and one experimenter per participants were tested at one time; one participant and one experimenter per room. Subjects sat facing away from the experimenter and were verbally informed of room. Subjects sat facing away from the experimenter and were verbally informed of the test’s procedures. Individuals were told to mentally keep track of one minute, the test’s procedures. Individuals were told to mentally keep track of one minute, and to raise their hands when they thought one minute was complete. and to raise their hands when they thought one minute was complete. Experimenters used cues such as ‘ready, set, go’ and ‘three, two, one, go’ to prompt Experimenters used cues such as ‘ready, set, go’ and ‘three, two, one, go’ to prompt subjects. Timing accuracy was not revealed to the subjects at any time. When one subjects. Timing accuracy was not revealed to the subjects at any time. When one group of participants completed Trial 1, the next group of randomly selected group of participants completed Trial 1, the next group of randomly selected individuals entered the computer labs for testing. Participants who had completed individuals entered the computer labs for testing. Participants who had completed testing waited in the hallway, outside the computer labs and classroom, until testing waited in the hallway, outside the computer labs and classroom, until beginning Trial 2. beginning Trial 2.

Trial 2: OutdoorTrial 2: Outdoor The outdoor portion of the experiment occurred immediately following the The outdoor portion of the experiment occurred immediately following the

completion of the indoor portion of the experiment. Participants were led by completion of the indoor portion of the experiment. Participants were led by experimenters to the schools lobby where they waited for their individual outdoor experimenters to the schools lobby where they waited for their individual outdoor trials. Different outdoor testing locations were used by each experimenter so that trials. Different outdoor testing locations were used by each experimenter so that the simultaneous tests would not confound one another. Each experimenter tested the simultaneous tests would not confound one another. Each experimenter tested the same individual’s whom they tested in Trial 1. The procedures and cues the same individual’s whom they tested in Trial 1. The procedures and cues remained the same as Trial 1; only Trial 2’s location varied. remained the same as Trial 1; only Trial 2’s location varied.

MeasuresMeasures Each experimenter used a cell phone timer to begin and to Each experimenter used a cell phone timer to begin and to

end each subject’s mental-timing trial. Start time was end each subject’s mental-timing trial. Start time was presumed to be 0.0 seconds. Subjects’ end-times were presumed to be 0.0 seconds. Subjects’ end-times were recorded from the moment their hands were raised, recorded from the moment their hands were raised, indicating their perception that 60 seconds had completed. indicating their perception that 60 seconds had completed. Subjects’ accuracy results were measured in seconds and Subjects’ accuracy results were measured in seconds and were compared to a perfect 60 seconds.were compared to a perfect 60 seconds.

Participants’ clothing during experimentation was also Participants’ clothing during experimentation was also recorded as possible confounding variables. Participants recorded as possible confounding variables. Participants wore the same clothes during Trial 1 as they did during wore the same clothes during Trial 1 as they did during Trial 2. However, the type of clothing worn to the Trial 2. However, the type of clothing worn to the experiment (i.e. - long-sleeves, t-shirts, sweatshirts, jeans, experiment (i.e. - long-sleeves, t-shirts, sweatshirts, jeans, shorts) was not controlled by experimenters. shorts) was not controlled by experimenters.

ResultsResults

A One Way Within-Subjects ANOVA A One Way Within-Subjects ANOVA Test was used to determine if the Test was used to determine if the results were statistically significant. results were statistically significant. Times of both indoor time perception Times of both indoor time perception of a minute (control condition) and of a minute (control condition) and outdoor time perception outdoor time perception (experimental condition) were (experimental condition) were gathered and compared. gathered and compared.

As hypothesized statistical significance (F=(1,13)= 4.78,p=.048) was found when comparing differences in

time perception outdoor (experimental) vs. time perception indoor (control.)

DiscussionDiscussion The colder environment had a significant effect on individuals' The colder environment had a significant effect on individuals'

one-minute accuracy.one-minute accuracy. (F 1.13) = 4.78, p=0.48)(F 1.13) = 4.78, p=0.48)

Confounds:Confounds: Sample size/GenderSample size/Gender Participants clothingParticipants clothing Time of the day – too early to focus?Time of the day – too early to focus? Accuracy of cell phone stopwatchAccuracy of cell phone stopwatch Experimenter’s accuracy of stopwatch useExperimenter’s accuracy of stopwatch use Study was designed to be blind for the participants; however after Study was designed to be blind for the participants; however after

participants left computer room they were not instructed to not participants left computer room they were not instructed to not discuss experiment with peers waiting in the hallway. discuss experiment with peers waiting in the hallway.

Perhaps the cold wasn't less stressful, and therefore participants Perhaps the cold wasn't less stressful, and therefore participants displayed the practice effect since the colder trial was the second.displayed the practice effect since the colder trial was the second.

Future StudiesFuture Studies

Interested in conducting next study Interested in conducting next study in different climates.in different climates.

Change to a between subjects Change to a between subjects design?design?

Have participants press button to Have participants press button to begin and end timer to record begin and end timer to record accuracy of 60 sec.accuracy of 60 sec.