Reaction times – card sorting
Task one
1.
2.
3.
4.
Shuffle a deck of cards
Time how long it takes to deal the cards randomly into two piles
Repeat twice with each person in the pair
Average the four times
Use the table below to record your results
Turn
Task 1
Time in
seconds
1
2
3
4
Average
Turn
Task 2
Time in
seconds
Turn
Task 3
Time in
seconds
Turn
Task 4
Time in
seconds
1
2
3
4
Average
1
2
3
4
Average
1
2
3
4
Average
Prediction
Prediction
Prediction
Before you start the following tasks, make a prediction of the average time you think you
will get.
Task two
Time how long it takes to sort the cards into a red pile and a black pile
Task three
Time how long it takes to sort the cards randomly into four piles
Task four
Time how long it takes to sort cards into four piles according to suit
Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Did your results agree with your predictions?
Were the results similar to those of other groups? Why might there be differences?
What is the time difference between tasks 1 and 2? How could you explain this?
What is the time difference between tasks 1 and 3? How could you explain this?
What is the time difference between tasks 2 and 4? How could you explain this?
What is the time difference between tasks 3 and 4? How could you explain this?