On the interpretation of removable interactions: A survey of the field 33 years after Loftus

Eric Jan Wagenmakers, Angelos Miltiadis Krypotos, Amy H. Criss, Geoff Iverson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

126 Scopus citations

Abstract

In a classic 1978 Memory & Cognition article, Geoff Loftus explained why noncrossover interactions are removable. These removable interactions are tied to the scale of measurement for the dependent variable and therefore do not allow unambiguous conclusions about latent psychological processes. In the present article, we present concrete examples of how this insight helps prevent experimental psychologists from drawing incorrect conclusions about the effects of forgetting and aging. In addition, we extend the Loftus classification scheme for interactions to include those on the cusp between removable and nonremovable. Finally, we use various methods (i. e., a study of citation histories, a questionnaire for psychology students and faculty members, an analysis of statistical textbooks, and a review of articles published in the 2008 issue of Psychology andAging) to show that experimental psychologists have remained generally unaware of the concept of removable interactions. We conclude that there is more to interactions in a 2 × 2 design than meets the eye.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)145-160
Number of pages16
JournalMemory and Cognition
Volume40
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2012

Keywords

  • Literature review
  • Measurement scale
  • Statistics in psychology
  • Transformations

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology
  • Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
  • Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)

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