Running Head: HOW DOES GENDER IMPACT REACTION TIME
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How Does Gender Impact Reaction Time?
Luka Nelissen González 726006, Simon Hajny 732754
Erasmus University College
EUC-ACC107
Jemma Oldfield
19 March, 2025
Word count: 1763 (excluding title page, reference list, and in text citations)
Abstract
This study investigates how gender impacts visual reaction time (VRT), hypothesising that males
exhibit faster responses than females to visual stimuli. Using the Human Benchmark online test,
80 participants (38 males, 42 females, aged 17–22) completed five trials, recording their lowest
reaction time in milliseconds. Data were analyzed with a one-tailed, unequal variance t-test after
confirming normality via Shapiro-Wilk tests. Results revealed males had a significantly faster
mean VRT. The 6.4% male advantage aligns with prior literature citing stronger motor
responses. Findings suggest gender influences VRT, with implications for optimizing
performance in fields like sports and driving, though societal shifts may narrow this gap.
Running Head: HOW DOES GENDER IMPACT REACTION TIME
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Introduction
Reaction time is a fundamental measure of cognitive and neuromuscular function,
influencing performance in various activities, from daily tasks to high-level athletic competition.
Visual reaction time (VRT), the time it takes to respond to a visual stimulus, is particularly
important in fields such as sports, driving, and gaming, where quick decision-making is crucial.
Several factors, including age, fatigue, and training, have been shown to influence VRT.
However, one variable that remains a topic of debate is gender.
Previous research has suggested that the difference between the reaction time of males
and females is due to a delay between stimulus presentation and muscle contraction. A
comparative study which assessed the reaction times of medical first-year students, suggested
that muscle contraction time is equal in both genders, however males have stronger motor
responses, leading to faster reaction time (Jain et al., 2015). Despite these findings, there are
disagreements on the extent to which gender impacts VRT.
For instance, one piece of literature tells us that within contemporary society, the male advantage
is getting proportionally decreasing, with the proposed reason being more women participating
in driving and fast-action sports. (Blough & Slavin, 1987)
Given the potential implications of VRT in fields requiring quick reflexes, understanding
gender-based differences could provide valuable insights for optimising performance and
training strategies. Based on existing literature, this study hypothesises that males will exhibit
faster visual reaction times than females. To test this, we will analyse the impact of gender on
VRT through a quantitative approach, addressing the research question: How does gender
impact visual reaction time (ms)?
Running Head: HOW DOES GENDER IMPACT REACTION TIME
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Hypothesis testing based upon our data collection in our research indicates that males
have significantly faster reaction times than females for visual stimuli. The research paper is
structured as follows: the next section of the paper provides an explanation of the methodology
used for data collection and interpretation, which discusses descriptive statistics to describe the
characteristics of the dataset. The final sections summarize the results of the data manipulation,
hypothesis testing and discusses the overall findings of our research, as well as the importance of
our research.
Methods
This study investigated the impact of gender on (VRT) using an online reaction time test
from Human Benchmark (https://humanbenchmark.com/tests/reactiontime) to collect raw data.
Participants were instructed to complete five trials and record their lowest reaction time (in
milliseconds) as their final score. A total of 80 participants (38 males and 42 females), aged 17 to
22, were recruited via a survey link sent through WhatsApp in several group chats. To minimize
external influences, participants were advised to complete the test in a quiet environment, while
sober, well-rested, and free from distractions (see fig 1).
Running Head: HOW DOES GENDER IMPACT REACTION TIME
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Fig 1. Survey sent out to participants to record reaction time
After data collection, the mean reaction time and standard deviations were calculated for
each sample as shown in the table below:
Gender
Mean Reaction Time
(ms)
Sample Size (n)
Standard Deviation
(ms)
Male
38
257
13.7
Female
42
243
11.5
Table 1. Mean Reaction Time and Standard Deviation in Male and Female group
To ensure the validity of the results, a Shapiro-Wilk test was conducted to check for
normality in reaction time distributions for both genders:
H0: Data follows a normal distribution
HA: Data does not follow a normal distribution
Running Head: HOW DOES GENDER IMPACT REACTION TIME
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The test confirmed that reaction times were normally distributed for both males (W =
0.978, p = 0.589) and females (W = 0.963, p = 0.132), indicating that parametric tests could be
used for further analysis.
A statistical hypothesis testing approach was used to assess whether the male group had
had a faster VRT. The hypotheses tested were:
H0: μmale = μfemale
HA: μmale < μfemale
A one-tailed, unpooled independent t-test (with unequal variance) was performed to compare the
mean reaction times of males and females. Firstly, the t-statistic was calculated using the
following formula:
Fig 2. t-statistic formula for unequal variance.
Then at an alpha level of 0.05, with a confidence interval of 90%, the critical value was found
with the Welch’s degrees of freedom formula (see Fig 3).
Running Head: HOW DOES GENDER IMPACT REACTION TIME
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Fig 3. Degrees of freedom formula for one-tailed, independent t-test with unequal variances.
Outliers were identified and examined to determine if they should be excluded from the
analysis. Ensuring data integrity, all responses were anonymized, and only the lowest reaction
time per participant was used to minimize variability caused by random errors or momentary
lapses in attention. This was considered since the majority of the participants were 1st-year EUC
students in the middle of a stressful period with assignments. This methodology ensures that the
study can be replicated by other researchers following the same procedures and data collection
techniques, ultimately producing reliable results.
Results
Descriptive Statistics
The mean VRT for males was 243 ms, with a standard deviation of 11.5ms. On the
contrary, mean VRT for females was significantly higher, at 259ms with a standard deviation of
13.7ms. On average, males therefore exhibited a 6.4% faster VRT than females. With this
information, we aim to provide a baseline for understanding the raw data before statistical
analysis.
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Fig 4. Bar Chart Showing Mean Reaction Time in Males vs Females
Testing to Find Degrees of Freedom
To find the degrees of freedom of our data set, we conducted a Welch’s t-test, as
previously mentioned in the method. The results are as follows;
Degrees of Freedom (df) = 73.10.
Since the t-score table does not account for this value of degrees of freedom, we round
down to 60, as rounding up to 80 (the other nearest value of degrees of freedom) would result in
an underestimation of the critical t-value, increasing the risk of a Type I error (false positive).
From the t-score table, we obtained the following:
T Critical Value (t*) = 1.671 (at 90% confidence interval, 0.05 alpha level with df
rounded down to 60)
Previously Obtained T-value = 4.923
Running Head: HOW DOES GENDER IMPACT REACTION TIME
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Hypothesis Testing
The specific test conducted was a one-tailed t-test with unequal variance, specifically
used to compare the male and female reaction times to visual stimuli. The hypotheses used for
said test are as follows:
H0: μmale = μfemale (no difference in reaction times).
HA: μmale < μfemale (males have faster reaction times).
The results indicated a t-value of 4.923, as well as corresponding p-value of 2.666x10−6 ,
indicating a highly significant statistical relationship, as the p was smaller than our alpha level
(𝛼) of 0.05. The outcome of the hypothesis test was therefore rejecting the null hypothesis,
confirming that males have a significantly higher reaction than females to visual stimuli. The
purpose of this t-test was to directly address the research question and hypothesis, either
confirming or rejecting its validity. The result of this t-test allows us to statistically generalize
our findings to both the male and female populations, concluding that VRT is, in fact, faster in
the male population.
Interpretation of Findings
The following information can be considered as the key insights obtained from the
previously mentioned hypothesis testing findings;
Males exhibited a statistically significant faster reaction time (6.4% advantage) compared
to females. This aligns with the hypothesis and prior literature that stated that stronger motor
responses in males could be the reason for males showing a faster VRT. The purpose of carrying
out these hypothesis tests is to link the statistical outcome to the study’s expectations, as well as
set the stage for discussion.
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Discussion
Results and Hypotheses Recap
From our findings, males have significantly faster visual reaction times (244 ± 11.5 ms)
than females (259 ± 13.7 ms), as confirmed by the one-tailed t-test (t = 4.923, p ≈ 0.000002, df ≈
60). The null hypothesis (H0: μmale = μfemale) was rejected in favor of the alternative (HA:
μmale < μfemale), supporting the prediction that males exhibit faster reaction times.
Answer to the Research Question
As previously stated, our research question was "How does gender impact visual reaction
time (ms)?". Gender significantly impacts visual reaction time, with males demonstrating a 6.4%
faster response (15 ms difference) than females in this study, a difference that is statistically
significant (p < 0.05). Males outperform females in VRT, as supported by empirical evidence
obtained from conducting hypothesis testing.
Limitations of the Study
Our data is constrained to a small sample size (38 males, 42 females) and narrow age
range (17–22), which limits the generalizability of our findings to broader populations.
Uncontrolled variables, such as potential influences like stress, fatigue, or menstrual cycle phase
were not fully controlled, despite efforts to standardize age, sobriety, and environment. Along
with this, some methodological bias may be present, as self-reported lowest scores from five
trials may have introduced variability or inaccuracy.
Implications for Future Research
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Some useful steps for future research could be expanding the scope of the study by increasing
sample size and diversity (e.g., wider age ranges, different cultural backgrounds) to enhance
generalizability. Another step would be to refine the control variables to account for additional
variables such as menstrual cycle phase, caffeine intake, or stress levels to isolate gender effects
more precisely. Comparative studies may also be necessary to investigate reaction times across
other stimuli (e.g., auditory) or longitudinal effects of training on gender differences.
Conclusion
To conclude, males have significantly faster visual reaction times than females, aligning
with biological and activity-based explanations, though societal shifts may narrow this gap over
time. The relevance for optimizing performance in fields such as sport or driving is crucial to
ensure safety, and could potentially benefit sports industries by raising entertainment levels for
viewers. Gender remains a key factor in visual reaction time, with this study providing robust
evidence of a male advantage in young adults.
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References
Blough, P. M., & Slavin, L. K. (1987). Reaction time assessments of gender differences
in visual-spatial performance. Perception & Psychophysics, 41(3), 276–281.
https://doi.org/10.3758/bf03208225
Jain, A., Bansal, R., Kumar, A., & Singh, K. (2015). A Comparative Study of Visual and
Auditory Reaction Times on the Basis of Gender and Physical Activity Levels of Medical
First Year Students. International Journal of Applied and Basic Medical Research, 5(2),
124. https://doi.org/10.4103/2229-516x.157168