Influence of Sex, Presentation Order, and Trial Blocks on Young Adults' Simple and Type-C Reaction Times

Abstract

This research examined the influence of sex, presentation order, and trial blocks on young adults' reaction times (RTs). Right-handed men and women ( n = 56) completed 20 simple and 40 type-c RT trials. Analysis of variance indicated that men reacted faster than women and that the simple task was performed more quickly than the type-c version. The significant interaction for type of task x trial blocks indicated that simple RTs became faster and type-c RTs slowed from the initial to subsequent trial blocks. The significant interaction for type of task x presentation order indicated that type-c task performance was quicker when administered first. Analysis of variance also showed that false positive errors on the type-c task were most frequent during the first trial block.