BESC1490 Introduction to Psychology

Assignment 2

Complete all three tasks:

1. Complete Multiple Choice Test [Task A]
2. In one file, answer Task B and Task C and post on the Blackboard site for this
course [due 23.59pm, Sunday 30.07.2018]

Task B: Tutorial or online activity with specific questions to be answered

[~200 words]
1. Explain reaction time and test your own simple RT

Reaction time is what a person takes to respond to a certain event or an action. It depends
upon the factors of perceiving stimuli, then processing the information to decide what
needs to be done and then responding according to a situation (Hyman 1953). The
screenshot has been attached that shows my response time to detecting a green signal.

2. Explain why your scores vary from one test to another?

My reaction time varied while detecting the green signals. It started of as one of the
fastest as I was fully focused on what needs to be done (Sternberg 1969). It changes
because I got too comfortable with my task and there were distractions such as movie
 on TV around me. After that it was consistent because I was fully focused and did not
miss the light turning green.

3. Relate reaction time to the everyday decisions made by car drivers or pedestrians.

Reaction time is of upmost importance when driving car or crossing road as a

pedestrian. The decisions that are required by a car driver are acting according to the
road signs, applying brakes to slow down, sudden stops to avoid collisions, making
judgements while changing lanes (Dingus et al. 2006). Similarly, for pedestrian it is
important to look both ways while crossing road, being aware of surroundings or any
unexpected danger and focusing on following rules and being safe. The pedestrians
may have to react quickly to get out of danger if they are faced with uncertain danger.

4. What implications does speeding have for reaction times and stopping a car to avoid a
child running onto a road?
The video shows that having a small reaction time is very important to reduce the
chances of collision as stopping distance reduces simultaneously (Triggs 1987). The
difference between 50 and 60km/h is minor, but it results in increasing the stopping
distance by 10 m which could be dangerous as if a child is 45 km any speed over 60
km will result in hitting the child. The change in reaction time by half second can
result in travelling 8 m more to come to a stop which could be very dangerous.

5. Describe one factor (eg, alcohol or fatigue or …) that influences reaction times and
discuss its impact on everyday traffic decisions
Fatigue negatively influences reaction time as it affects both the mind and body. It
results in increasing one’s reaction time to stimuli. Sleep deprivation affects the
cognitive functions and slow down the body movements. Therefore, it has a big
impact on traffic decisions as fatigue results in increase in reaction times, reduced
attention and diminished memory as well as mood swings. Increase in reaction times
and reduced attention can lead to accidents on road (Phillips 2014).
The usage of caffeine to overcome this is common as it fastens the decision-making
process and reaction time by blocking the neurons to trigger sleep cycle and keep the
muscles awake(McLellan, Caldwell & Lieberman 2016).

Task C. Answer one of the following in no more than a 100 words:

Apply some aspect of this material to some part of your life [or your future
work life]
The aspect of genetics and the environment in psychological functioning can be applied to
my life. My brother, cousin and I seem to share common atmospheres as we have been living
in same family environment with similar settings, teachings, responsibilities and expectations
from us. Therefore, even all of us are being influenced by similar setting, but I find my
personality to be very similar to my brother but different from my cousin. It suggests that
personality is highly linked to heritable traits of an individual and family effects on
individual’s personality vanishes over time.
References:
Dingus, TA, Klauer, SG, Neale, VL, Petersen, A, Lee, SE, Sudweeks, J, Perez, MA, Hankey,
J, Ramsey, D & Gupta, S 2006, The 100-car naturalistic driving study, Phase II-results of the
100-car field experiment.
Hyman, R 1953, 'Stimulus information as a determinant of reaction time', Journal of
experimental psychology, vol. 45, no. 3, p. 188.
McLellan, TM, Caldwell, JA & Lieberman, HR 2016, 'A review of caffeine’s effects on
cognitive, physical and occupational performance', Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews,
vol. 71, pp. 294-312.
Phillips, RO 2014, 'What is fatigue and how does it affect the safety performance of human
transport operators', Oslo: Insitute of Transport Economics (TØI), vol.
Sternberg, S 1969, 'Memory-scanning: Mental processes revealed by reaction-time
experiments', American scientist, vol. 57, no. 4, pp. 421-457.
Triggs, TJ 1987, 'Driver brake reaction times: unobtrusive measurement on public roads'