The statistic society of the study are consisted of all older people higher than 55 years old (55 to 65 years old) in Sanandaj [9, 15, 16]. The statistic samples were selected among those who had not the background of doing considered and even similar tasks. The inactive people were randomly chosen among the persons who had not any continuous physical activity. The active samples were also chosen in the case of accessibility among the older people who have participated in the fitness and sports classes of Physical Education Department in Sanandaj and had continuous physical activity three times a week [17]. The sample size was selected regarding to the Determining sample size formula and also previous similar studies and 30 people were selected for each active and inactive groups. Therefore, the statistical sample size was consisted of 60 people that were in two active and inactive groups and each with 30 samples.
Ethical Considerations
All the participants were properly informed on the objectives of the research and confidentiality of their information, and they participated in the study voluntarily after fulfillment of the informed consent form. The consent was obtained from all participants or their legal guardians as written form. In addition, this research was approved by the ethics committee of the Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences. We confirmed that all methods were carried out in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations.
Data collection tool:
For reaction time measurement, the reaction timer was used. For response time, the movement and response test of Nelson's selection was also used [18]. To measure the response time, the red light actuator and the red button were used. The red light actuator was placed in the 80 cm height of sample. The sample was also placed on a chair and in a comfortable situation. Participants responded to the actuator by the right hand thumb. The samples' hands were placed so on the armrest that in line and in same height with the actuator appearance point. Each sample has done ten tries for getting familiar with the test and device that was not analyzed. Then, they conducted 40 tries and data were recorded [19, 20]. To prevent the tiredness effect, according to the previous studies, 40 tries of each sample were conducted in two blocks include of 20 tries and with 5 minutes rest [19, 21]. In order to prevent the predicted time by the subject's actuator, actuator was provided randomly in a range of 2 to 4 seconds [16, 20, and 22]. During the study procedure, samples were entered into the test location in groups consisted of 4 persons and any voices that could lead to disruption in samples' concentration were prevented. For response time, the movement and response test of Nelson's selection was also used [18]. This test is used in domestic and external (or abroad) studies. This test has 0.81 validity coefficient and 0.85 reliability coefficient.
The study procedure is as follows:
- We draw a line by 14 yards (6.12 meters) so that its middle and ends be identified.
- The sample is placed in standing mode on the center line and within 2 to 3 meters in front of him.
- Examiner holds with stopwatch one hand and with the other hand or with the same hand suddenly shows one of two right or left directions and at the same time operates the stopwatch.
- The sample runs speedy on the line and until its end to the direction which examiner has shown and the time of this distance is recorded in second and Hundredth of a second.
- This event is repeated ten times and so the sample should run randomly in the directions 5 times. In the other words, the sample should run 5 times to right direction and 5 times to the left.
- 20 second rest should be considered between each performing.
- The mean of then repetitions is considered as the test record for each sample [23].
As most of the samples were low-educated or illiterate, the information about the sample's age, health, disease background and etc. for each person was completed in the special questionnaire by the researcher. At first, the reaction time test and then Nelson's field test were performed.
Statistical methods:
In this study, for data categorization and adjustment, the descriptive statistics and for determining the normality of data, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test were used. In order to compare the active and inactive groups about the reaction and response times, independent T test with confidence level of 0.95 was used. For data analysis, the SPSS software (version 21) was also used.
Study results
In table 1, the results of mean, standard deviation and reaction and response times of samples of two active and inactive groups are shown:
Table (1): Mean and standard deviation of reaction time and the answers of two active and inactive groups
Test
|
groups
|
numbers
|
means
|
Standard deviation
|
Reaction time
|
Active
|
30
|
0.254
|
0.141
|
Inactive
|
30
|
0.289
|
0.18
|
Response time
|
Active
|
30
|
2.65
|
0.290
|
Inactive
|
30
|
3.08
|
0.383
|
In order to determine the normality of data, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test with confidence level of 0.95 (α= 0.05) was used which results are shown in table 2:
Table 2: Kolmogorov-Smirnov test for surveying the normality of data of simple reaction time
|
Reaction time
|
Response time
|
Numbers
|
60
|
60
|
Considered parameters
|
Mean
|
0.272
|
2.86
|
Standard deviation
|
0.023
|
0.403
|
Z amount
|
0.768
|
0.583
|
Sig
|
0.596
|
0.886
|
In table 3, the results of independent T test in confidence level of 0.95 (α= 0.05) is shown which is for comparing the reaction and response times in active and inactive older people that indicate that the active older people have meaningful faster reaction and response times than the inactive group.
Table 3: The independent T test for comparing the reaction and response times in active and inactive older people
Groups
|
Mean
|
Freedom degree
|
F
|
Sig
|
Reaction time
|
Active
|
0.254
|
58
|
0.585
|
0.000
|
Inactive
|
0.289
|
Response time
|
Active
|
2.65
|
58
|
2.66
|
0.000
|
Inactive
|
3.08
|