Threat recognition test

[seamusTX]

This site has a shooting test in which you must decide whether or not to shoot as quickly as possible. You lose points for failing to shoot quickly enough when you see a handgun, or for shooting an unarmed man.

Don't even bother unless you have broadband.

http://backhand.uchicago.edu/Center/ShooterEffect/

Hint: The unarmed people are mostly holding a wallet, cell phone, or beer can.

This site is at the University of Chicago and is designed to determine whether you are biased to shoot more quickly at whites or blacks. I have no comment on that aspect of it.

I am interested in opinions about how realistic the threat recognition aspect is.

- Jim

[drw]

That was interesting. Here was my outcome:

Your Score: 525
Average reaction time:
Black Armed:682.8ms
Black Unarmed:745.68ms
White Armed:688.2ms
White Unarmed:733.52ms

What I found particularly interesting was that I noticed armed people a lot quicker than unarmed. The site of a handgun is instantly recognizable, while all the other non-firearm items were more difficult to process.

Not much different in time for me between the skin colors.

[Tactical_Texan_CHL]

Game Over
Your Score: 610
Average reaction time:
Black Armed:660.88ms
Black Unarmed:758.76ms
White Armed:669.04ms
White Unarmed:708.84ms

Interesting. I noticed the same thing drw did. The gun is almost instantly recognizable. The other item, whatever it may be, takes longer to process. I don't have any idea what it proves though. I think I was already overly attentioned to race since you mentioned that was part of what they were researching. I kept wondering if I were profiling and feeling guilty about it. Silly, I know.

[melkor41]

Game Over
Your Score: 660
Average reaction time:
Black Armed:686.8ms
Black Unarmed:767.16ms
White Armed:672.4ms
White Unarmed:749.68ms

[seamusTX]

I kept wondering if I were profiling and feeling guilty about it. Silly, I know.

It's not silly. Profiling and bias are issues (whether valid or not) in many defensive shootings.

- Jim

[M9FAN]

Interesting. I noticed the same thing drw did. The gun is almost instantly recognizable. The other item, whatever it may be, takes longer to process. I don't have any idea what it proves though.

Your Score: 650
Average reaction time:
Black Armed:641.24ms
Black Unarmed:695.76ms
White Armed:625.48ms
White Unarmed:682ms

[melkor41]

I did notice that I noticed the two tone guns MUCH faster. (parker slide and chrome barrel, stainless body + wood grips, etc)

[DoubleActionCHL]

Game Over
Your Score: 710
Average reaction time:
Black Armed:663.8ms
Black Unarmed:694.48ms
White Armed:688.72ms
White Unarmed:683.64ms

It might be interesting to play slowly and record the options. I noticed on some individuals the gun was in a position that made it difficult to identify. I would have to wonder if these difficult to identify handguns were equally distributed between the black and white suspects. Complex threats always take longer to assess.

[longhorn_92]

Interesting test....

Game Over
Your Score: 675
Average Reaction Time:
Black Armed: 623.28ms
Black Unarmed: 746ms
White Armed: 642.24ms
White Unarmed: 721.04

[locknload]

OK, so what does it tell us other than the fact that we more readily recognize a gun in the hand than any of the other objects? I have to wonder if there were equal numbers of blacks as whites, kneeling, standing, soda cans, wallets, cell phones, etc.? There are far too many variables and far too few choices for this to be a viable sampling, IMHO. But it sure was fun ... except when I got the shoot key and the holster key mixed up!

Game Over
Your Score: 640
Average reaction time:
Black Armed:685.08ms
Black Unarmed:822.24ms
White Armed:697.68ms
White Unarmed:776.28ms

[Keith B]

Your Score: 705
Average reaction time:
Black Armed:662.48ms
Black Unarmed:767.48ms
White Armed:669.96ms
White Unarmed:737.32ms

[FightinAggieCHL]

Game Over
Your Score: 725
Average reaction time:
Black Armed:511.52ms
Black Unarmed:618.88ms
White Armed:543.32ms
White Unarmed:610.56ms

Very interesting... I read all of the comments before it, and you're right. I did pick up on the pistol faster than I picked up on the non-threats. I think it was because I was trying to identify the object itself, rather than identify whether or not it was a threat. Still, neat little game.

[mr surveyor]

on my laptop it's a bit too hard to see for my sorry eyes...may be easier to shoot 'em all and let God sort 'em out

Hey, is'nt this little study thing from Chicago...as in Illinois??? One of the most unfavorable states in the Union for gun ownership and 2A!!!

[sylus27]

Well, I did get shot by one guy holding a pistol with the top of the barrel facing me...looked like a beer can at first glance. My speed was a little slower than everyone else but pretty even between armed/unarmed.

Score: 675
Black Armed:750.28ms
Black Unarmed:778.36ms
White Armed:749.68ms
White Unarmed:731.48ms

[aardwolf]

The gun wasn't pointed at me so I yelled for the guy to freeze. He did. No need to shoot.