Method for determining a dead time T S in the response of an exhaust gas sensor for determining an exhaust gas state variable in an exhaust gas duct of an internal combustion engine, the dead time T S being determined from a measured output signal of the exhaust gas sensor, or a measured parameter derived therefrom, and a comparison signal, or a comparison parameter derived therefrom, wherein the measured output signal, or the measured parameter derived therefrom, is supplied, downstream of a high-pass filter, to a downstream first saturation element in order to allow either only positive or only negative signal components to pass; and wherein the specific comparison signal, or the comparison parameter derived therefrom, is supplied to a bandpass filter and is subsequently delayed by a model dead time T M by a dead-time element, wherein the comparison signal delayed by the model dead time T M, or the comparison parameter derived therefrom and delayed by the model dead time T M, is supplied to a downstream second saturation element in order to allow either only positive or only negative signal components to pass; and wherein the high-pass filter and the high-pass component of the bandpass filter have the same cutoff frequency and a passband that overlaps the low-pass component of the bandpass filter; and wherein a directionally selective determination of the dead time T S is performed between the outputs of the two saturation elements (60, 61) by a cross-correlation function over multiple positive or negative edges of a change in the exhaust gas state variable; and wherein the model dead time T M is chosen in such a way that the cross-correlation function assumes a maximum and wherein the dead time T S of the measured output signal of the exhaust gas sensor is equated to the model dead time T M determined in such a way. wherein the measured output signal, or the measured parameter derived therefrom, is supplied, downstream of a high-pass filter, to a downstream first saturation element in order to allow either only positive or only negative signal components to pass; and wherein the specific comparison signal, or the comparison parameter derived therefrom, is supplied to a bandpass filter and is subsequently delayed by a model dead time T M by a dead-time element, wherein the comparison signal delayed by the model dead time T M, or the comparison parameter derived therefrom and delayed by the model dead time T M, is supplied to a downstream second saturation element in order to allow either only positive or only negative signal components to pass; and wherein the high-pass filter and the high-pass component of the bandpass filter have the same cutoff frequency and a passband that overlaps the low-pass component of the bandpass filter; and wherein a directionally selective determination of the dead time T S is performed between the outputs of the two saturation elements (60, 61) by a cross-correlation function over multiple positive or negative edges of a change in the exhaust gas state variable; and wherein the model dead time T M is chosen in such a way that the cross-correlation function assumes a maximum and wherein the dead time T S of the measured output signal of the exhaust gas sensor is equated to the model dead time T M determined in such a way.