Temporal-order judgment and reaction time for short and long stimuli

Summary The effect of intensity on visual latency was investigated. Visual latency was measured by two methods: simple motor reaction time (RT) and temporalorder judgment (TOJ). It was found, in accordance with previous studies, that the changes in RT were larger than TOJ latency when measured in the same range of intensity. Moreover, the relationship between TOJ latency and intensity was compared in two conditions: under so-called with-offset, the information about offset order was available for the subject, while under without-offset conditions it was not. It was hypothesized on the ground of Jakowski's 1991 study that the TOJ latency-intensity relation should differ for these two conditions because of the effect of intensity on visual persistence. We were unable to find any such effect.     

Parallel processing of the attributes of single stimuli

Three experiments are described, in which Ss had to decide whether or not single stimuli, varying along the dimensions of shape and color, satisfied a given criterion. In different conditions, the number of dimensions relevant to the criterion was varied. The first experiment indicates that simple interpretations of a standard Nickerson procedure are potentially artifactual. In the last two experiments, a design involving different difficulties of discrimination was used so that a serial interpretation of the results could be convincingly rejected, even for unpracticed Ss. These results strongly support the view that perceptually parallel processing normally occurs in the identification of single multidimensional stimuli. By this interpretation, apparently similar tasks may produce different patterns of results because of the use of different decision processes by the Ss.     

An eye fixation analysis of choice and judgment with multiattribute stimuli

The present paper examined the selection of processing heuristics for choice and judgment across a range of stimuli. Eye fixations were monitored while six subjects made choices or judgments of pairs of gambles, vacations, or gifts. Each stimulus was represented by three attributes that varied in the amount of dimensional interdependency. The two heuristics of interest were dimensional and holistic evaluation. Each manifested a characteristic pattern of eye fixations. Dimensional evaluation required alternating fixations from a single attribute of one stimulus to the same attribute of the other stimulus. Holistic evaluation was characterized by transitions from attribute to attribute within a single stimulus. The results demonstrated that when the stimulus attributes were either interdependent (gambles) or dissimilar (gifts), the processing heuristic was determined by stimulus characteristics. When the stimulus dimensions were neither interdependent nor dissimilar (vacations), the selection of a processing strategy was determined by the prescribed task. This study suggests that any global theory of choice or judgment must be validated over a wide range of stimuli.     

The influence of category membership of stimuli on sequential effects in magnitude judgment

The present study addresses the problem of whether range effects and sequential dependencies are affected by stimulus category membership in the same way. Two sets of squares differing in color were presented to subjects. The subjects were asked to judge them according to size, under two instructions. The separation instruction required them to judge each square solely in relation to its own category. The integration instruction required them to ignore category membership. The results indicated that, under the separation instruction, the range effects, as well as the sequence effects, confined themselves to stimuli of the same category. Under the integration instruction, however, the squares were judged in relation to the range of all the stimuli, and sequential effects were independent of the stimulus category. This parallel trend in the category-specific effects of range and preceding stimuli was found for judgments, as well as for reaction times. The findings are discussed with regard to models of sequential effects.     

Cognitive processing of multidimensional stimuli in schizophrenia: formal modeling of judgment speed and content

This article presents a formal, mathematical account of relations between response times on simple cognitive tasks and content of complex judgments involving multiple stimulus dimensions for people with schizophrenia. Changes in multidimensional judgments were viewed as the result of interference from increased stages of encoding with respect to the individual dimensions. Information on dimensional properties encoded earlier in a judgment trial was considered to be more susceptible to loss over the rest of the trial, because of a larger number of encoding stages applied to the remaining dimensional properties. Model predictions were tested with samples of paranoid and nonparanoid schizophrenic participants and controls. Unidimensional encoding speed was assessed by reaction times in an explicit similarity ratings task, and multidimensional judgment content was assessed by the relative importance of different stimulus dimensions to participants' ratings in an implicit similarity ratings task. Results support validity of the model.     

A note on the reliability of subjective judgment in discerning when the mouth is clear of salt taste stimuli

The ability of Ss to judge by taste when they had expectorated exogenous NaCl from the mouth was tested using 10 Ss. It was found that, after a 1-M salt mouthrinse, Ss judged its taste to have vanished while there were still residuals remaining in the mouth, which would have been detected by taste at preexperimental adaptation levels. This means that Ss are unable to judge for them selves when the mouth is clear of exogenous stimuli and that intertrial procedures requiring Ss to do this are suspect.     

Two models for psychophysical judgment: Scale invariance with changes in stimulus range

Two scaling models are investigated, each of which includes parameters which reflect variation in the use of judgmental categories. In one model, response categories are represented as successive intervals on an underlying sensory continuum. In the other, they are represented as points. Psychophysical scales based upon either of these models are invariant up to a linear transformation when the range of stimulus magnitudes is manipulated. Successive intervals scale values obtained from magnitude estimates are also linearly invariant with changes in stimulus range. Similarities in the proximity functions for the two judgment models are examined.     

Decision factors affecting line orientation judgments in the method of single stimuli

Just noticeable differences in orientation are smaller at principal standard orientations than at oblique standard orientations when they are measured with the method of single stimuli. We determined whether this oblique effect is due to an anisotropy in decision factors. A first series of experiments showed that the subjects compare the stimulus with an internal criterion, and that this decision rule is used at all standard orientations. A second series of experiments determined the influence on the oblique effect of nonsensorial variables related to criterion setting. The results strongly suggest that the effect is not due to a criterial noise anisotropy and that criterion-setting processes are similar at principal and oblique standard orientations. The latter conclusion was also supported by an analysis of the sequential stimulus and response dependencies in this task. Hence, it appears that the oblique effect in line orientation discrimination, when it is measured with the method of single stimuli, is due not to decision factors but to a sensorially based anisotropy.     

Reaction time as an indicator of stimulus‐response binding in affective judgment of visual stimuli1

Conventional studies on affective meanings have been conducted using the semantic differential technique. Although it offers reasonably valid and reliable measures for the bindings between visual stimuli and affective responses, it is dependent on subjective rating. Thus, the present study examined whether the reaction time (RT) of affective judgments for visual stimuli (color, shape, and facial expression) can be an objective indicator of the strength of stimuli‐response bindings. The results can be summarized as follows: (a) RTs for judging Evaluation were longer regardless of stimulus type; (b) RTs for Activity were shorter regardless of stimulus type; and (c) RTs for Lightness and Sharpness depended on stimulus type. These phenomena are consistent with the findings of previous affective meaning studies, suggesting that the RTs for affective judgments can be useful indicators reflecting the strength of the bindings between stimulus properties and affective meanings across various target stimuli and rating scales.