It has been found that time estimates under conditions of motivation to reach a goal are inversely related to rate of progress through a task. This investigation extended the progress variable into negative values where Ss actions on each trial took him farther from the goal. Replications for 15-, 30-, 45-, and 60-min. periods showed that longer estimates were made where S moved neither forward nor backward (zero progress) and shorter estimates for both backward as well as forward progress. Explanation of this effect in terms of both Hindle's equation and frustration theory are rejected in favor of one utilizing sensory input as the critical variable.
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