NTU worldwide study examines time perception amid COVID-19 lockdown

The study explores the impact of social distancing and isolation on people’s perceptions of time in a new global study, led in the UK by Nottingham Trent University (NTU).

There is no secret that people find it difficult to keep track on time, some of them blaming their busy lifestyles or the rapid advance of technology in the last decades.

Even before the lockdown, the well-known question ‘where does the time go?’ was one of the most enigmatic topics that defined this century.

However, this problem has become even more noticeable with the impact of social distancing and isolation on people’s perceptions of time.

Second year Journalism student at NTU George Cowell, 21, said he finds it challenging to keep track of his time and be productive in these ‘unprecedented times’.

He said: “Despite all my best efforts to keep to a routine, my life has become repeated actions day by day.

“There’s only so many things you can do in a house and after five weeks I’ve almost exhausted them all.

”As a result, it feels as though time is passing faster than I can comprehend, many times I think it’s Tuesday but it’ll actually be Wednesday. My body clock is out.”

The study on time perception led in the UK by Nottingham Trent University is aiming to explore this problem, and measure how an individual’s ability to perceive and process time has been affected by the COVID-19 lockdown.

Researchers in countries across the globe, including India, the USA, Japan, Canada Germany, France, Spain and Italy, are looking to question 1,000 participants each.

In the weeks and months to come, volunteers will be asked to answer questionnaires and perform experimental psychology tasks online. They will be tested several times during the confinement period, then at least ten days, and at least three months afterwards.

Darren Rhodes, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at NTU’s School of Social Sciences, said: “This has never been done before, so it is a unique moment in time to see exactly how people experience time in isolation.

“We expect to find that people in different types of situation might experience time quicker or slower dependent upon things like children, how active the day is, how well do they sleep, individual circadian phases, attentional style, and self-perceptions for example.”

The data collected in the UK will form part of a global narrative on the experience of time during these exceptional circumstances.

Anyone interested in taking part in the study can sign up online or email Darren Rhodes for further information.

By Olimpia Zagnat

Feature photo credit: Pixabay.

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