The use of key-press, voice and mouse devices in response time researches: A comparison in low conflict tasks

• Published in: Computers in human behavior 2013-09, Vol.29 (5), p.1960-1970
• Main Author: De-Marchis, Giorgio P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Computer peripheral devices; Gain; Human behavior; Linguistics; Mapping; Measurement; Reaction time; Response modality; Response mode; Response time; Semantics; Tasks; Vocal and manual response; Voice
• ISSN: 0747-5632; 1873-7692
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2013.04.010

•The different speeds in a simple reaction task are due to executional differences.•In a lexical decision task is necessary to compensate S–R mapping for vocal responses.•In a semantic categorization task (SCT), frequency can bias the results in vocal mode.•In a SCT, it is important to counterbalance, when comparing different modes.•Differences between modes should be taken into consideration. It is implicitly assumed that data obtained from different modalities in response time research are comparable. However, this assumption has not been tested and verified, and scholars do not really know whether their choice has any effect on data, and consequently, whether they have lost experimental control. This research compares three modes (key-press, voice and mouse) in three of the most commonly used low conflict tasks (simple reaction, lexical decision and semantic categorization) to confirm the above assumption. To gain more precision, linguistic and semantic gradients have been tested. Results show that there are no functional differences in the simple reaction task. In the lexical decision task a frequency effect for all modes has been found. Specific S–R mapping rules do not need to be reversed when using a button-press or a mouse mode, but they have effects on the voice mode. In the semantic categorization task, a gradient and a frequency effect have been found in all modes. However, word frequency can affect the data. It is recommended to reverse S–R mapping rules in the voice mode in order to avoid differences with the manual modes. In conclusion, differences in low conflict tasks exist and must be taken into consideration when comparing studies in which different devices have been used.