Keywords

Time, time estimation, time perception, hand, handedness, hand preference, sex differences

Abstract

This work examines the effect of participants' gender and handedness on the perception of short intervals of time. The time estimation task consisted of an empty production procedure with forty trials at each of four intervals of one, three, seven, and twenty seconds. The four target intervals represent a natural logarithmic progression and a series that bracket important temporal thresholds. The order of presentation of those intervals was randomized across participants but yoked across the sexes in each of the respective dominant hand groups. The two between-subject factors, with two levels each, were sex and handedness. Participants produced forty estimates at each of the required intervals, which was the first within-subject factor, estimated interval being the other. T-tests were conducted on the dependent measures, the time estimates in terms of their variability and their central tendency with respect to the target duration. If handedness plays a significant role in timing, this may indicate differences between hemispheric functioning as a possible causal mechanism. If there is cerebral asymmetry in time perception, namely if one hemisphere is more competent regarding time perception, accuracy in judging duration should be higher for the contralateral hand. The results of the present study indicated that there are no significant differences in performance between right-handed and left-handed participants, or between male and female participants, in the estimation of short intervals of time.

Notes

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Graduation Date

2005

Semester

Fall

Advisor

Hancock, Peter

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Psychology

Degree Program

Psychology

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

CFE0000768

URL

http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/CFE0000768

Language

English

Release Date

January 2006

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Access Status

Doctoral Dissertation (Open Access)

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Psychology Commons

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