Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Hold a standard ruler or yardstick out in front of you by the end (at the highest number on the ruler) and let it hang.
Have the person whose response time is being tested hold her index finger and thumb on either side of the opposite end of the ruler, at 0 inches. She should not touch the ruler, but be ready to grab it when it's dropped.
Tell her that you'll drop the ruler within five seconds but don't tell her when you actually drop it. The test only works if she's surprised when the ruler is actually dropped.
Drop the ruler. The test taker will react by catching it between her thumb and forefinger.
Record the result in inches or centimeters. Consult the following chart to convert from length to time where in = inches, cm = centimeters, sec = seconds and ms = milliseconds:
2 in (~5 cm) = 0.10 sec (100 ms)
4 in (~10 cm) = 0.14 sec (140 ms)
6 in (~15 cm) = 0.17 sec (170 ms)
8 in (~20 cm) = 0.20 sec (200 ms)
10 in (~25.5 cm) = 0.23 sec (230 ms)
12 in (~30.5 cm) = 0.25 sec (250 ms)
17 in (~43 cm) = 0.30 sec (300 ms)
24 in (~61 cm) = 0.35 sec (350 ms)
31 in (~79 cm) = 0.40 sec (400 ms)
39 in (~99 cm) = 0.45 sec (450 ms)
48 in (~123 cm) = 0.50 sec (500 ms)
69 in (~175 cm) = 0.60 sec (600 ms)
The test should be repeated three to five times and an average taken. Take the average by adding the total reaction time (the sum of all the times recorded) and dividing by the number of trials. For example, if you ran three trials with the following times: 200 ms, 250 ms, 300 ms, add the time together: 200 ms + 250 ms + 300 ms = 750 ms. Then divide by 3: 750 ms/3 trials = 250 ms average reaction time.