Wait a Minute! Time Perception in Children Can Change?

Overview

Objectives/Goals The objective was to see how time perception is learned in children. We hypothesized that time estimation would become more accurate with age and could be learned with feedback. Methods/Materials We tested 40 children ranging in age from 4 to 18. They were all tested in a controlled environment, a large cardboard box with lights inside. Each subject was asked to estimate one minute three times. One group was told their actual times between estimates (feedback), and the other group was not (no feedback). Seven subjects returned for testing on a second day. Results The four and five year olds did not understand the concept of a minute. Most subjects eight and under did not have the attention required for time estimation. Time estimation was similar in subjects 9 to 18 years old. In subjects nine and over, time estimation improved with feedback. Unexpectedly, subjects gave longer time estimates on their second and third attempts. Conclusions/Discussion Older children had more accurate estimations of one minute, and feedback improved time estimation. It is likely that older subjects had more accurate time estimates because they had more focus. Subjects probably gave longer time estimates in in their second and third tries because they knew what to expect and were more relaxed.

Awards (1)

• Honorable Mention

Competition history

• CSEF 2015 Cognitive Science (Junior Division Only) · Entry J0724

Resources

• CSEF project summary ↗

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