The influence of task difficulty and external tempo on subjective time estimation

The variables of which subjective time is a function extend throughout a myriad of “people, places, and things.” This study measured subjective estimations of time as a function of complexity of cognitive task including arithmetic and recall (within subjects), the rate of stimulus (digit span) information (between subjects), and the delay between stimulus presentation and estimations of time (between subjects). A mixed analysis of variance 2 × 2 × 3 (repeated-measures) factorial design showed that retrospective time estimations were significantly different as a function of the main effects of rate of digit presentation and delay. Men and women showed no differences with no significant interactions so their data were pooled. Quotient values for ratios of delayed versus immediate estimates and slow versus fast rates showed overestimates of “real time.” Explanations based on the “storage-size model,” the “attention-allocation” model, and comparisons with Pedri and Hesketh's 1993 data are discussed.

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Subjective Time Estimation in Altered Sensory Environments

Environment and Behavior ◽

10.1177/0013916592245004 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 24 (5) ◽

pp. 634-652 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Joseph Glicksohn

Keyword(s):

Time Estimation ◽

Subjective Time

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Time Estimation and Total Subjective Time

Perceptual and Motor Skills ◽

10.2466/pms.1977.44.2.527 ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 44 (2) ◽

pp. 527-532 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

James L. Walker

Keyword(s):

Life Span ◽

Time Estimation ◽

Chronological Age ◽

Subjective Time ◽

Square Root ◽

Time Model ◽

Subjective Duration ◽

Retrospective Reports ◽

Age Model ◽

Perceived Duration

Techniques for estimation of magnitude were used in a questionnaire given to 100 university students to test the hypothesis that the subjective duration of an interval of actual time decreases in proportion to total subjective time rather than total chronological age. The results supported the subjective time hypothesis for retrospective reports of perceived duration of a year at both one-half and one-quarter of the subject's present age. In both cases the subjective time hypothesis provided a better fit to the data than the chronological age model. The hypothesis of the subjective time model that subjective life-span is equal to the square root of the statistically expected life-span was also tested but was not confirmed.

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Immediate versus Remote Judgements: Delay of Response and Rate of Stimulus Presentation in Time Estimation

Perceptual and Motor Skills ◽

10.2466/pms.1998.86.1.19 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 86 (1) ◽

pp. 19-22 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

William F. Vitulli ◽

Kathleen A. Crimmins

Keyword(s):

Analysis Of Variance ◽

Time Estimation ◽

Stimulus Presentation ◽

Factorial Analysis ◽

Subjective Time ◽

Target Interval ◽

Time Intervals ◽

Time Estimates ◽

Verbal Estimation ◽

Main Effects

A systematic replication of Vitulli and Shepard's 1996 study showed that a change in response requirements (verbal estimation) from circling time intervals on a scoring sheet in the older study to writing subjective time estimates in the present study did not alter the robust effects of a delay in retrospective judgement. A complete 2×2×2 factorial analysis of variance showed main effects for rate (fast versus slow) of stimulus (random digits, 1–5) presentation and delay of estimate (immediate versus remote), yet there were no interactions among rate, delay, or sex. The interpolation of “filler tasks” between the end of the target interval and subjective estimate of the duration of the target interval significantly increased perceived time compared to estimates made immediately after the target interval.

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Using Virtual Reality to Study Subjective Time in Crowded Versus Uncrowded Environments

Perceptual and Motor Skills ◽

10.1177/0031512519857869 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 126 (5) ◽

pp. 737-752 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kazuma Shimokawa ◽

Eriko Sugimori

Keyword(s):

Virtual Reality ◽

Time Perception ◽

Real World ◽

Daily Life ◽

Time Estimation ◽

Subjective Time ◽

Crowded Condition ◽

Head Mounted Displays ◽

Nature Park ◽

Human Density

Human density in different locations influences time estimation. In this article, we report three experiments investigating whether research in virtual reality (VR) environments would replicate this earlier finding. In our first experiment, 35 participants wore head-mounted VR displays and watched two videos showing a cityscape and a countryside. While watching each video, participants were asked to provide their perceptions of 30 seconds of time passage. Perceived time in the cityscape condition was longer than in the countryside condition. In our second experiment, 43 participants wore head-mounted VR displays and watched two videos showing a crowded and uncrowded Ikebukuro station. While watching these videos, participants were asked to provide their perceptions of 60 seconds of time passage. Perceived time in the crowded condition was longer relative to the uncrowded condition. In our third experiment, 21 participants wore head-mounted displays and watched two videos showing a crowded and uncrowded nature park. While watching the videos, participants were asked to provide their perceptions of 60 seconds of time passage. These repeated findings in VR environments of longer time perception in crowded versus uncrowded conditions were similar to data reported by who examined how location and human density affected subjective time in the real world. We discussed the implications of the VR tool in subjective time research and how people perceive and use VR environments in daily life.

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Subjective Time Estimation and Age

Perceptual and Motor Skills ◽

10.2466/pms.1991.72.3c.1275 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 72 (3_suppl) ◽

pp. 1275-1280 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Roy Gallant ◽

Tara Fidler ◽

Kim A. Dawson

Keyword(s):

Time Estimation ◽

Subjective Time

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Subjective time estimation by humans is increased by counterclockwise but not clockwise circumcerebral rotations of phase-shifting magnetic pulses in the horizontal plane

Neuroscience Letters ◽

10.1016/s0304-3940(99)00379-1 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 268 (2) ◽

pp. 61-64 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Charles M Cook ◽

Stanley A Koren ◽

Michael A Persinger

Keyword(s):

Horizontal Plane ◽

Time Estimation ◽

Phase Shifting ◽

Subjective Time

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Subjective Time and Perceptual Skill

Perceptual and Motor Skills ◽

10.2466/pms.1986.62.3.873 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 62 (3) ◽

pp. 873-874 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Bradford Dean Wixen

Keyword(s):

Personality Traits ◽

Pearson Correlation ◽

College Men ◽

Time Estimation ◽

Subjective Time ◽

Discrete Events ◽

Time Estimates ◽

Perceptual Skill

Subjective time estimation was hypothesized as correlated with the number of discrete events one discerns per interval and one's attentiveness, interest in the experience, and efficiency. It was predicted that one who recognizes many discrete events per interval and rates high on these personality traits tends to underestimate time. For personality attributes, tapped by questionnaire, high scores denote an individual who shows the predicted characteristics of underestimaters. Estimations were made of a 3-min. tone of 191 Hz by 40 college men. Pearson correlation between questionnaire scores and time estimates was —.30. All 8 subjects with scores below 100 overestimated.

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