The role of cognitive changes in immediate and remote prospective time estimations

Abstract

The present research examines the predictive value of memory storage-size, cognitive change and attentional models with the aim of discovering which of them best explains the human experience of duration under conditions of intentional attention to time and under immediate and remote time estimation conditions. An independent measurement was also made of the processing effort invested in experimental task performance. A completely randomized 3 x 2 x 2 between-subject factorial design was applied to 192 students of psychology at the University of Salamanca. The results, obtained by means of ANOVA methods and orthogonal contrasts between means, showed 1. (1) that changes in the cognitive context operate as the main determinants for making judgements of time, and 2. (2) that the distinction between immediate and remote prospective time estimation is crucial because it causes a shortening or lengthening of duration judgements by human beings. The significance of the results for time estimation models is discussed. © 1994.