A short note on the reliability of perceptual timing tasks as commonly used in research on developmental disorders

Abstract

Objectives Perceptual timing tasks are frequently applied in research on developmental disorders, but information on their reliability is lacking in pediatric studies. We therefore aimed to assess the reliability of the four paradigms most frequently used, i.e., time discrimination, time estimation, time production, and time reproduction. Methods Based on the data from our recent longitudinal study by Marx et al. (Front Hum Neurosci 11:122, 2017), we estimated the internal consistency and test-retest reliability of these tasks in children with ADHD and typically developing children. Individual thresholds were used as dependent measures for the time discrimination task, whereas absolute error and accuracy coefficient scores were used for the other three tasks. Results Although less commonly used, the time estimation paradigm was the most robust measure of perceptual timing in terms of internal consistency and test-retest reliability in both ADHD and typically developing children, whereas the most frequently used paradigms showed poor internal consistency (time reproduction) and poor test-retest reliability (time discrimination). Compared to the absolute errors, accuracy coefficients showed almost exclusively higher internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Conclusions Our findings call for more frequent use of the time estimation paradigm in studies of perceptual timing in ADHD. The time reproduction paradigm should be reconsidered , avoiding pooling of a wide range of time intervals (2-48 s). The accuracy coefficient score is the more reliable and the more intuitive dependent variable and should be preferred in future timing research. To increase the reliability of the timing measurement, each experimental session should be performed twice, if possible.

Prospective and Retrospective Verbal Time Estimation in Children with ADHD

“… Bluschke et al, 2018 ; Gongsook et al, 2014 ). In this regard, the method of time estimation and the measure accuracy score appear to be particularly robust in terms of their high reliability ( Marx et al, 2021 ). Earlier findings suggest that methylphenidate has a specific effect on improving timing deficits in ADHD ( Smith et al, 2013 ).…”

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“…We validated two instruments that could be effectively used for determining consistent response patterns in reaction time and time estimation research. Other authors have also shown that the process of time estimation represents a paradigm in terms of the reliability of the required tasks [38].…”

Psychometric properties of the Children’s Time Awareness Questionnaire (CTAQ): A study on the validity of a Dutch 20-item questionnaire measuring time awareness in children

“…Recent years show an increased interest in exploring individual differences in children's time awareness (Marx et al, 2020;Labrell et al, 2020). Time awareness, also referred to as time perception, timing, or temporal processing, is believed to facilitate our ability to predict, anticipate, and respond competently to daily life and contribute to the development of children's independence in daily living (Barkley, 1997b;Janesl€ att, 2009;Piaget, 2013).…”