Now we will proceed on to a simple reaction time experiment. A stimulus (a blue or orange dot) will appear at randomly varying intervals of time. Your task is simply to hit a designated key on the keyboard as quickly as you can upon presentation of each stimulus. Following the simple reaction time experiment, you will be able to observe the data collected. This data tells you what your reaction times were for each trial, as well as your average reaction time.
The Simple Reaction Time experiment consists of three blocks of trials. In the first block you will test your left hand; in the second block you will test your right hand, and the final block will again test your left hand. Each block will be preceeded by a very brief instruction. Once you have read the instructions, you will click on the “Continue” button, then you will have a short period of time to put your finger on the designated key. The trials will begin automatically.
Are you left-handed or right-handed? We'll try to guess. In this phase, you will use only your left or right finger for each trial. At random intervals, a dot will appear on the screen. Use the designated finger to respond as soon as you see the dot.
You will be given additional instructions as you take the experiment.