Abstract
In a three-choice reaction time paradigm, subjects made buttonpress responses of short, medium, or long duration. Reaction time increased monotonically with the three levels of required response duration for each subject. This result is difficult to accommodate with a hypothesis involving anticipation of stimulus events, and is consistent with the previous view that the difference in reaction time reflects differences in the times required to program the subsequent responses. Within each condition of required press duration, the within-subject correlation of reaction time and actual response duration was essentially zero. This result is consistent with the programming interpretation of the above between-conditions effect rather than an alternative interpretation of a general slowing of the time frame of the reaction time/ response duration sequence.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Klapp, S. T. Short-term memory as a response preparation state. Memory & Cognition, 1976, 4, 721–729.
Klapp, S. T. Rèsponse programming, as assessed by reaction time, does not establish commands for particular muscles. Journal of Motor Behavior, in press, (a)
Klapp, S. T. Reaction time analysis of programmed control. In R. Hutton (Ed.), Exercise and sports sciences reviews. Santa Barbara, Calif: Journal Publishing Affiliates, in press, (b)
Klapp, S. T., & Wyatt, E. P. Motor programming within a sequence of responses. Journal of Motor Behavior, 1976, 8, 19–26.
Klapp, S. T., Wyatt, E. P., & Lingo, W. M. Response programming in simple and choice reactions. Journal of Motor Behavior, 1974, 6, 263–271.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This research was supported in part by Grant BNS 76-13466 from the National Science Foundation. The authors are indebted to Gregory Messer, who designed and constructed the apparatus.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Klapp, S.T., McRae, J. & Long, W. Response programming vs. alternative interpretations of the “dit-dah” reaction time effect. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 11, 5–6 (1978). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03336750
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03336750