Effect of Information Feedback on Temporal Discrimination in Concurrent and Post-Feedback Measures

Abstract

College students estimated time intervals (5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 sec.) where one group (N = 20) received information feedback in terms of actual interval durations and a second group (N = 18) received no information. Theshold measures were then taken for all subjects using the method of constant stimuli (comparison stimuli of 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 sec. and a 7-sec. standard). In addition to increased accuracy and consistency of judgments, the feedback group showed a decreasing Weber fraction during the estimation phase, while the Weber fraction for the no-feedback group increased. The feedback group retained only a slight advantage in subsequent threshold measures; group differences in difference thresholds and derived nonparametric estimates of d' were nonsignificant.

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