Eco-cultural influences on time estimation

Abstract

This paper is an attempt to study the eco-cultural influences on time estimation, with special reference to the domestication of livestock. Five groups of tribes and non-tribes were selected for the study. One group of tribes had domestic livestock while the other group did not. Non tribes consisted of urban literates, urban illiterates and rural illiterates. Time estimation by reproduction method was employed as a tool. The study found that if the stimulus presented represents the familiar environment, it facilitates one to be accurate in time estimation under short duration. On the other hand, if the stimulus presented represents the unfamiliar environment, the estimated time can be either under estimation or over estimation of the given interval under long duration.