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Adobe Flash as a medium for online experimentation: a test of reaction time measurement capabilities

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Reimers, Stian and Stewart, Neil. (2007) Adobe Flash as a medium for online experimentation: a test of reaction time measurement capabilities. Behavior Research Methods, Vol.39 (No.3). pp. 365-370. ISSN 1554-351X

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3758/BF03193004

Abstract

Adobe Flash can be used to run complex psychological experiments over the Web. We examined the reliability of using Flash to measure reaction times (RTs) using a simple binary-choice task implemented both in Flash and in a Linux-based system known to record RTs with millisecond accuracy. Twenty-four participants were tested in the laboratory using both implementations; they also completed the Flash version on computers of their own choice outside the lab. RTs from the trials run on Flash outside the lab were approximately 20 msec slower than those from trials run on Flash in the lab, which in turn were approximately 10 msec slower than RTs from the trials run on the Linux-based system (baseline condition). RT SDs were similar in all conditions, suggesting that although Flash may overestimate RTs slightly, it does not appear to add significant noise to the data recorded.

Item Type:

Journal Article

Subjects:

B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Q Science > QA Mathematics > QA76 Electronic computers. Computer science. Computer software

Divisions:

Faculty of Science > Psychology

Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):

Psychological apperatus, Adobe Systems, Psychology, Experimental, Internet research

Journal or Publication Title:

Behavior Research Methods

Publisher:

Psychonomic Society, Inc.

ISSN:

1554-351X

Official Date:

August 2007

Dates:

Date	Event
August 2007	Published

Volume:

Vol.39

Number:

No.3

Number of Pages:

Page Range:

pp. 365-370

Identification Number:

10.3758/BF03193004

Status:

Peer Reviewed

Access rights to Published version:

Open Access

Funder:

HSBC Bank

References:

1. Adobe Flash Player Statistics (2007). Retrieved August 16, 2007, from www.adobe.com /products/player _census/flashplayer.
2. Finney, S. A. (2001). Real-time data collection in Linux: A case study. Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, & Computers, 33, 167-173.
3. Reimers, S. (2007). The BBC Internet study: General methodology. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 36, 147-161.
4. Reimers, S. & Maylor, E. A. (2005). Task switching across the life span: Effects of age on general and specific switch costs. Developmental Psychology, 41, 661-671.
5. Reimers, S. & Maylor, E. A. (2006). Gender effects on reaction time variability and trial-to-trial performance: Reply to Deary and Der (2005). Aging, Neuropsychology, & Cognition, 13, 479-489.
6. Schmidt, W. C. (2001). Presentation accuracy of Web animation methods. Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, & Computers, 33, 187-200.
7. Stewart, N. (2006). Millisecond accuracy video display using OpenGL under Linux. Behavior Research Methods, 38, 142-145.
8. Stewart, N. (2006). A PC parallel port button box provides millisecond response time accuracy under Linux. Behavior Research Methods, 38, 170-173.
9. Ulrich, R. & Giray, M. (1989). Measuring reaction times: How accurate must a clock be? Good news for bad clocks. British Journal of Mathematical & Statistical Psychology, 42, 1-12.

URI:

http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/613

Data sourced from Thomson Reuters' Web of Knowledge

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