Time Wall Task

Perception Duration: ~3 minutes
Time Wall Task screenshot

System Requirements

🖥️
Screen Size:
Minimum: 800×600
Recommended: 1024×768
⌨️
Keyboard required

Description

A time estimation task from the UTC test battery (Jerison et al., 1957). A square target descends at constant speed, becomes occluded behind a wall, and participants estimate when it would reach a notch at the bottom. Tests temporal perception and mental extrapolation.

Test Details

Test ID:
timewall
Main File:
timewall.pbl
Parameters:
11 configurable parameters
Languages:
German English Spanish French Italian Dutch Portuguese

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Scientific Background

Original Task References:

These references describe the original task that this PEBL implementation is based on.

  • Jerison, H. H., Crannell, C. W., & Pownall, O. (1957). Acoustic noise and repeated time judgements in a visual movement projection task (WADC-IR-57-54). Wright Air Development Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
  • Jerison, H. J., & Arginteanu, J. (1958). Time judgements, acoustic noise, and judgement drift (WADC-TR-57-454). Wright Air Development Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

Data Output

Creates one data file: timewall-<subnum>.csv with trial-level data including subnum, trial number, target transit time (actual), response time (estimated), accuracy (proportional error), and direction of error (short/long). Feedback provided after each trial showing actual vs. estimated time.

Example Data

subnumtrialtargtimeresptimeaccshortlong
111616631.5864120.0331111-1
111625368.4253650.000637255-1
111633263.1632230.0123065-1

Sample data showing typical output format. Actual values will vary by participant.

About This Test

A time estimation task from the UTC test battery (Jerison et al., 1957). A square target descends at constant speed, becomes occluded behind a wall, and participants estimate when it would reach a notch at the bottom. Tests temporal perception and mental extrapolation.

Category: Perception
Estimated Duration: 3 minutes
Available Translations: 7 languages

Documentation Sources:
Test implementation, Parameter schema

Documentation Status: Standard