Does it matter if you answer slowly?

TL;DR

This study investigates how response times vary by gender and correctness in a large-scale primary school test, revealing significant differences and a warm-up effect, especially pronounced among girls.

Contribution

It provides the first large-scale analysis of response time differences and warm-up effects in primary school assessments, highlighting gender disparities.

Findings

Girls show greater warm-up effects than boys.

Response times differ significantly between correct and incorrect answers.

Warm-up effects are a major factor in overall test performance differences.

Abstract

In this paper, we have analyzed item response times measured at a large scale unspeeded low stakes test for primary-school students. We have demonstrated the existence of significant difference in the response time for boys and girls as well as difference in response time of correct and incorrect answers on this test. We have also demonstrated existence of the warm up effect for this test. The results show that responses given by girls exhibit much greater warm up effect and that difference appears to be the most important cause of the difference on the test level.