Introduction and Importance of Research

In light of the significant advancements in the field of sports, which have led to achieving the highest and best levels of athletic performance across various individual and team sports, it has become essential to pay considerable attention to all the requirements for success. These requirements rely on various academic and scientific disciplines to assist in selecting appropriate training and educational curricula, as well as in choosing accurate tools to evaluate the effectiveness of these methods and approaches. This also applies to the process of athletic selection, which is considered the cornerstone of training and educational operations. Selecting athletes who possess motor, cognitive, physical, and skill-related abilities facilitates reaching optimal performance levels with minimal cost and time.

Here, the role of the science concerned with testing and measurement becomes evident, as it plays a major role in the aforementioned aspects. The processes of evaluation and selection are crucial responsibilities of this science, which has become directly linked to the development of sports plans and programs. This is confirmed by Abdul Hussein et al. [1] who stated that "the importance of testing and measurement lies in evaluating programs and developing various plans for all levels and age groups in sports activities".

It is also worth noting that motor abilities and physical attributes, in addition to cognitive capacities, are of great importance in preparing and developing elite athletes and achieving the highest levels of skillful As Suleiman [2] noted, "achieving the ideal model of performance requires motor abilities associated with physical attributes and coordinated harmony between the nervous and motor systems".

Among the most important of these abilities is motor reaction speed, which is a fundamental requirement in most sports, especially in open-skill activities that demand responses to various stimuli in a constantly changing environment. Therefore, the significance of this research lies in developing a test that accurately measures this critical ability, enabling those involved in training and education to benefit from its results.

Research Problem

Through the researchers’ review of the available tests for measuring motor reaction time, it became evident that these tests are outdated and may lack a high degree of objectivity. Moreover, they typically measure responses to a single stimulus only.

Hence, there is a need to design a modern, simple, and cost-effective device that measures motor reaction time to combined auditory and visual stimuli. This raises the research question: Does the proposed device meet the scientific standards required for accurately measuring reaction time to both types of stimuli?

Research Objectives

• To design an electronic device for measuring motor reaction time to combined auditory and visual stimuli

• To develop a test for measuring motor reaction time to combined auditory and visual stimuli

Research Fields

• Human Field: Players from the University of Anbar’s team sports

• Spatial Field: Indoor hall of the College of Physical Education and Sports Sciences – University of Anbar

• Temporal Field: From November 2, 2025, to January 4, 2026

Definition of Terms

• Motor Reaction Time: Motor Reaction Time: “The time elapsed between the onset of a stimulus and the completion of the movement” [3]. This indicates that reaction time includes anticipation time, response time, and movement time

• Complex Motor Response: Complex motor response is the ability to perform a series of diverse and intricate movements in reaction to multiple stimuli. It requires a high level of coordination between the sensory systems, the nervous system, and the muscular system. An example of this is responding simultaneously to a combination of visual and auditory signals, as commonly occurs in team sports or self-defense activities 

• Auditory Stimuli:“Stimuli perceived through the sense of hearing, such as sounds and auditory signals, used to trigger a motor or cognitive response in an individual[4]

• Visual Stimuli: Stimuli received through the sense of sight, such as colors, shapes, movements, or visual signals, used to trigger a motor or perceptual response” [5]

Research Methodology

The researchers used the descriptive method with a developmental normative approach, as it is considered the most appropriate method for this type of research [6-7].

Table 1: Distribution

Research Population

The research population consisted of players from the team sports of the College of Physical Education and Sports Sciences at the University of Anbar, including football, basketball, volleyball, and handball teams. The total number of players was 54.

Research Sample

The sample was selected intentionally and included all 54 players, representing 100% of the research population. The Table 1 shows the distribution.

Devices and Tools

Devices

• An electronic device designed by the researchers to measure motor response time.

• A measuring tape.

Tools

• A questionnaire distributed to experts.

Test Construction Steps

• Test Name: Motor Reaction Time Test

• Test Objective: To measure complex motor reaction time

• Tools Used: A custom-designed electronic device to measure complex motor reaction time using auditory and visual stimuli. The device was developed to display stimuli and measure response time accurately. It consists of four wired components:

• Stimulus Display Panel: Contains two light arrows (one pointing right, the other left), each capable of displaying red or green. In each trial, one arrow lights up in either red or green, selected randomly. A simultaneous auditory cue (via speaker) announces the color to which the subject must respond

• Control Panel: Connected to the display panel, sensors, and a digital timer. It includes a start button that, when pressed, triggers both visual and auditory stimuli and starts the timer simultaneously

• Sensors: Two sensors are placed on opposite sides (right and left). When the subject crosses the beam of the correct sensor, it sends a signal to stop the timer

Test Procedure: The subject stands 2 meters in front of the control panel. The tester, positioned behind the display, presses the start button. Two arrows appear in different directions and colors, and an auditory cue announces the color to respond to (e.g., "Red"). The subject must run toward the direction indicated by the red arrow and pass the corresponding sensor. The timer starts with the stimulus and stops when the subject crosses the sensor beam. The direction is randomly selected by the device. The distance from the starting point to the sensor is 4.20 meters

• Scoring Method: Each subject performs three trials, and the fastest time is recorded

Table 2: Scientific Foundations of the Test

Table 3: Results of the Complex Motor Reaction Time Test for Auditory and Visual Stimuli

First Pilot Study

Conducted on 8 players to test the device and determine the optimal distance between the start point and the sensor. Initially, the device used wireless connections, but interference from nearby mobile phones led to switching to wired connections. The researchers concluded that 4.20 meters was the ideal distance to reveal performance differences and avoid fatigue.

Second Pilot Study

Conducted two weeks later on the same 8 players to verify the device’s reliability and the scientific validity of the test. The device demonstrated high accuracy and efficiency.

Scientific Foundations of the Test

• Test Reliability: There are several methods to verify the reliability of a test, but the test-retest method is considered one of the simplest and most effective approaches. This is affirmed by Allawi and El-Din [8], who stated that "the test-retest method is one of the simplest and best ways to verify the reliability coefficient, as it is based on administering the same test to the same group on two different days".

• To avoid the effect of learning transfer, the researchers conducted the second test two weeks after the initial one. Statistical analysis was performed using Pearson’s simple correlation coefficient between the results of the two tests. The reliability coefficient was found to be 89%, indicating that the test is reliable.

Validity
Two methods were used:

• Construct Validity: Derived from the reliability coefficient, yielding a self-validity of 0.94

• Content Validity: Assessed by presenting the test to eight experts, all of whom approved it with minor suggestions that were incorporated. Thus, content validity was 100%

Objectivity
The test is objective because it is administered via an electronic device, eliminating human bias. As Luay Al-Sumaidaie noted, “Tests using electronic devices are more accurate and can reach objectivity levels of up to 90%”. [9]. Expert consensus also confirmed this (Table 2).

Main Experiment

Conducted on the main sample of 46 players from all team sports at the College of Physical Education and sports and Sports Sciences, University of Anbar. Results were recorded using a pre-prepared form and analyzed statistically according to the test procedures.

Statistical Tools

The researchers used statistical software and artificial intelligence to process the research data [10-11].

Presentation and Analysis of Results

The Table 3 presents the results of the complex motor reaction time test for auditory and visual stimuli. The highest recorded time was 1.90 seconds, and the lowest was 1.522 seconds. The mean for the research sample was 1.715 seconds, with a standard deviation of 0.106 seconds. The low standard deviation indicates that the results were closely clustered around the mean, suggesting minimal dispersion. This implies that the difficulty level of the test was consistent across participants, enhancing the test’s reliability. As noted by Khamis [12], consistency is a strong indicator that a test accurately measures a specific trait^.

Discussion of Results

The results in Table 3 show that the participants’ scores were close to the mean with low variability. This suggests that although the athletes came from different sports, their motor reaction speeds were relatively similar. This finding highlights the importance of high reaction speed across team sports, where players must respond to multiple stimuli in dynamic environments. Most team sport skills are open skills, meaning they are performed in changing conditions that require quick adaptation.

The test’s variation in stimulus type (auditory vs. visual) and direction of response simulates a changing environment, requiring athletes to respond quickly in various situations. As Khayoun [3] emphasized, “Athletes in open skills need quick reactions or fast responses”.

Furthermore, as Ibrahim [9] explained, “Motor reaction time includes anticipation time + reaction time + movement time”. In this test, the movement component is minimal (limited to 4.2 meters), focusing primarily on auditory and visual reaction time, rather than movement speed or acceleration. This confirms that the test effectively measures the specific trait it was designed to assess.

• The researchers concluded that the test met the scientific standards for validity, reliability, and objectivity

• The manufactured device demonstrated high accuracy

• The device is cost-effective

• The device is portable and easy to transport

Recommendations

The researchers recommend:

• Using this test across various sports, both individual and team-based.

• Enhancing the test by increasing the number and complexity of stimuli.

• Employing this test in sports science research and studies.

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3. Khayoun, Y. “Motor learning: between principle and application” 2nd ed. House of Books and Documents, 2010.

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8. Allawi, M.H. and El-Din, M.N. “Measurement in physical education and sports psychology” Dar Al-Fikr Al-Arabi, 2000.

9. Ibrahim, I.K. “Designing a device to measure reaction time and target accuracy in men’s skeet shooting” Master’s thesis University of Anbar, 2012.

10. Hammood, Y.M. et al “Measuring the aggressive behavior of the teams in the Iraqi Premier League in football and its relation to the results and ranking of the league for the 2022-2023 season” Sportske Nauke i Zdravlje vol. 14 no. 2 year, 2024, pp. 127-134.

11. Khalaf, Y.A. et al “The effect of sports job burnout on the performance of workers in student activities departments in Iraqi universities” Retos vol. 66, 2025, pp. 86-95.

12. Khamis, I.S. “Development of a scale for negative sports behavioral phenomena and its application to premier league players in selected team sports in Iraq” Doctoral dissertation University of Anbar, 2007.