TY - JOUR
T1 - Testing the validity of conflict drift-diffusion models for use in estimating cognitive processes
T2 - A parameter-recovery study
AU - White, Corey N.
AU - Servant, Mathieu
AU - Logan, Gordon D.
N1 - Funding Information:
We would like to thank Ronald Hübner for providing ranges for the DSTP parameters, and Rolf Ulrich for his insightful discussions on activation and suppression mechanisms for the DMC. This work was supported by NEI Grant R01-EY021833 and the Vanderbilt Vision Research Center P30-EY008126.
Funding Information:
Author’ note We would like to thank Ronald Hübner for providing ranges for the DSTP parameters, and Rolf Ulrich for his insightful discussions on activation and suppression mechanisms for the DMC. This work was supported by NEI Grant R01-EY021833 and the Vanderbilt Vision Research Center P30-EY008126.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2017, Psychonomic Society, Inc.
PY - 2018/2/1
Y1 - 2018/2/1
N2 - Researchers and clinicians are interested in estimating individual differences in the ability to process conflicting information. Conflict processing is typically assessed by comparing behavioral measures like RTs or error rates from conflict tasks. However, these measures are hard to interpret because they can be influenced by additional processes like response caution or bias. This limitation can be circumvented by employing cognitive models to decompose behavioral data into components of underlying decision processes, providing better specificity for investigating individual differences. A new class of drift-diffusion models has been developed for conflict tasks, presenting a potential tool to improve analysis of individual differences in conflict processing. However, measures from these models have not been validated for use in experiments with limited data collection. The present study assessed the validity of these models with a parameter-recovery study to determine whether and under what circumstances the models provide valid measures of cognitive processing. Three models were tested: the dual-stage two-phase model (Hübner, Steinhauser, & Lehle, Psychological Review, 117(3), 759–784, 2010), the shrinking spotlight model (White, Ratcliff, & Starns, Cognitive Psychology, 63(4), 210–238, 2011), and the diffusion model for conflict tasks (Ulrich, Schröter, Leuthold, & Birngruber, Cogntive Psychology, 78, 148–174, 2015). The validity of the model parameters was assessed using different methods of fitting the data and different numbers of trials. The results show that each model has limitations in recovering valid parameters, but they can be mitigated by adding constraints to the model. Practical recommendations are provided for when and how each model can be used to analyze data and provide measures of processing in conflict tasks.
AB - Researchers and clinicians are interested in estimating individual differences in the ability to process conflicting information. Conflict processing is typically assessed by comparing behavioral measures like RTs or error rates from conflict tasks. However, these measures are hard to interpret because they can be influenced by additional processes like response caution or bias. This limitation can be circumvented by employing cognitive models to decompose behavioral data into components of underlying decision processes, providing better specificity for investigating individual differences. A new class of drift-diffusion models has been developed for conflict tasks, presenting a potential tool to improve analysis of individual differences in conflict processing. However, measures from these models have not been validated for use in experiments with limited data collection. The present study assessed the validity of these models with a parameter-recovery study to determine whether and under what circumstances the models provide valid measures of cognitive processing. Three models were tested: the dual-stage two-phase model (Hübner, Steinhauser, & Lehle, Psychological Review, 117(3), 759–784, 2010), the shrinking spotlight model (White, Ratcliff, & Starns, Cognitive Psychology, 63(4), 210–238, 2011), and the diffusion model for conflict tasks (Ulrich, Schröter, Leuthold, & Birngruber, Cogntive Psychology, 78, 148–174, 2015). The validity of the model parameters was assessed using different methods of fitting the data and different numbers of trials. The results show that each model has limitations in recovering valid parameters, but they can be mitigated by adding constraints to the model. Practical recommendations are provided for when and how each model can be used to analyze data and provide measures of processing in conflict tasks.
KW - Cognitive modeling
KW - Conflict tasks
KW - Drift-diffusion model
KW - Parameter validity
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U2 - 10.3758/s13423-017-1271-2
DO - 10.3758/s13423-017-1271-2
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85016444796
SN - 1069-9384
VL - 25
SP - 286
EP - 301
JO - Psychonomic Bulletin and Review
JF - Psychonomic Bulletin and Review
IS - 1
ER -