Waiting time distributions reveal natural “period” of humans in random number generation tasks

Authors

Irene A. Crisologo ⋅ PH National Institute of Physics, University of the Philippines Diliman
Rene C. Batac ⋅ PH National Institute of Physics, University of the Philippines Diliman
Anthony G. Longjas ⋅ PH National Institute of Physics, University of the Philippines Diliman
Erika Fille T. Legara ⋅ PH National Institute of Physics, University of the Philippines Diliman
Christopher Monterola ⋅ PH National Institute of Physics, University of the Philippines Diliman

Abstract

Humans introduce a bias in random number generation (RNG) tasks, making a completely random human-generated sequence impossible without post-processing. Instead of an exponential distribution characteristic of random events, human generated sequences show a universal trend of having a mode at seven, termed the “period” T of human RNG. Two post-processing procedures that are based on T are shown to be successful at producing completely random sequences that follow exponential waiting times: (1) stitching seven independently-generated sequences by different individuals; and (2) shuffling the raw sequence by taking every seventh digit at a time.

Downloads

Issue

2009: Proceedings of the 27th Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas Physics Congress

Article ID

SPP-2009-PA-10

Section

Poster Session PA

Published

2009-10-28

How to Cite

[1]

IA Crisologo, RC Batac, AG Longjas, EFT Legara, and C Monterola, Waiting time distributions reveal natural “period” of humans in random number generation tasks, Proceedings of the Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas 27, SPP-2009-PA-10 (2009). URL: https://proceedings.spp-online.org/article/view/SPP-2009-PA-10.