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General Psychology Science Fair Project

Sensory Conditions and Time Perception

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Sensory Conditions and Time Perception | Science Fair Projects | STEM Projects
Does listening to music make five minutes feel shorter than sitting in silence? You have probably noticed that time seems to drag when you are bored. It flies when you are busy. This project measures that effect directly. You place participants in a quiet room for exactly five minutes. Each group gets different conditions. Some sit still. Others wear a blindfold or listen to music or draw. Afterward, each person estimates how long they were in the room. Compare the average time estimates across groups to see which conditions distort time perception the most.

Hypothesis

The hypothesis is that sensory information influences our sense of time.

Method & Materials

You will divide participants into four groups, prepare a room with one chair and a small light weight desk or table, and then test one participant at a time. Each group will be exposed to its own unique conditions.
You will need 20 participants, a blindfold, a room that is free of distractions, a musical device such as a Iphone, walkman, or radio, 1 chair, a watch with a minute hand, a data sheet, paper and pencil, and a small table or desk.

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Results

After testing each group, the results showed that sensory information does indeed influence our sense of time. The group that was blindfolded was the least accurate in estimating the passage of time.

Why do this project?

This science project is interesting because it explores the mystery of how we perceive time. It also shows how our senses can influence our perception of time.

Also Consider

Variations of this experiment could include testing different types of music or having participants engage in different activities while in the room.

Full project details

Additional information and source material for this project are available below.

Related video

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