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Sequential sampling models of the flanker task: Model comparison and parameter validation

White, Corey N.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1274365921

Abstract Details

2010, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Psychology.
The present study tests sequential sampling models of processing in the flanker task. In a standard flanker task, participants must identify a central target that is flanked by items that indicate the same response (congruent) or the opposite response (incongruent). The standard finding is that incongruent flankers produce interference that primarily affects the early component of the decision process. The goal was to contrast different mechanisms of visual attention and to identify a simple processing model that can be used to augment analyses of this task. Several models were contrasted in their ability to account for flanker data from experiments that manipulated response bias, speed/accuracy tradeoffs, attentional focus, and stimulus configuration. Models that assume dynamic focusing of attention provided the best overall account of the behavioral data. Among the dynamic models, a spotlight model that assumes gradual narrowing of attention provided the best balance of fit and parsimony, though dual process models that assume discrete selection of the target also captured the main trends in the data when only standard congruent and incongruent conditions were used. Importantly, the experimental manipulations were reflected by the appropriate model parameters, supporting future use of these models to decompose behavioral data from the flanker task into meaningful psychological constructs. The results of this study also indicate that standard flanker experiments do not provide strong evidence for contrasting gradual versus discrete target selection, and consequently they do not provide strong evidence to support or refute theories of the underlying mechanisms of dynamic attention models.
Roger Ratcliff, PhD (Advisor)
Simon Dennis, PhD (Committee Member)
Alex Petrov, PhD (Committee Member)
Gail McKoon, PhD (Committee Member)
102 p.
Psychology
sequential sampling models; diffusion model; flanker task; conflict; model comparison; spotlight; dual process; bayesian models

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • White, C. N. (2010). Sequential sampling models of the flanker task: Model comparison and parameter validation [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1274365921

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • White, Corey. Sequential sampling models of the flanker task: Model comparison and parameter validation. 2010. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1274365921.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • White, Corey. "Sequential sampling models of the flanker task: Model comparison and parameter validation." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1274365921

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1274365921
731
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.