Not sure about response time, unless you're talking about delays regarding video and audio sync. As for refresh rate, I assume that means 30 hz, 60 hz, 120 hz, etc. Each stands for the amount of frames per second the television or monitor can handle. Most standard televisions are 60 hz. Most HDTVs are 60 hz as well but there are some that are 120 hz and occassionally support (but it's not the fixed highest rate) 24 hz. 120 hz supposedly makes for a smoother broadcast format but in console gaming you rarely see 60 fps, let alone 120, so it's not that big a deal. 24 fps is the exact frame rate of film and therefore keeps blu-ray movies in its most native and smooth format in the transition from film to video.
Monitors and really high end HDTVs can support 120 hz and even higher (I think I recall a really expensive 360 hz set). Computers are capable of higher than 60 fps and therefore may need the higher hz support, however all in all 60 hz is the safest HDTV and 120 hz is the safest monitor for gaming. Anything more is just copying frames in an attempt to smooth the signal.
Response time is how fast the pixel can change from state to another. The lower the response time the better usually, older screens with large response time usually had problems with "ghosting" due to a pixel's inability to change quickly. Most screens now usually have a response time of 8ms or less, which shouldn't show any ghosting whatsoever.
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