Adapting chronometric tests for field studies of cognitive ability

This study was designed to examine the relationship of hand preference to performance on a thumb-positioning task. Two hypotheses were proposed on the basis of hemispheric lateralization. The first stated that all subjects would perform the task more accurately using the left thumb, regardless of hand preference. The second hypothesis tested was that left-handed subjects would perform more accurately than right-handed subjects. Each of 20 neurologically intact adults grouped by hand preference reproduced a criterion thumb position with both thumbs simultaneously. Absolute error, recorded for each movement and analyzed by mixed analysis of variance, did support the first hypothesis. However, the left-handed group did not perform statistically differently from right-handed subjects. Factors influencing the data are discussed and recommendations for further studies are made.