Alphabetic sequence decisions for letter pairs with separations of one to three letters.
The alphabet storage and retrieval theory of Klahr, Chase, and Lovelace (1983) was tested for applicability to letter-order decisions. Ss judged whether letter pairs with sequential separations of 1, 2, or 3 letters were in correct or incorrect order. Ss made decisions either in a continuous- or intermittent-attention mode. The results for alphabetic letter-order decisions with a letter separation of 1 were in conformance with the theory of Klahr et al. in both attention modes. However, at letter separations of 2 and 3 letters, Ss made decisions that were more compatible with a symbolic-distance mechanism. Speculation on how Ss could make alphabetic-order decisions in either a memory-consultation or a symbolic-distance manner is made.
Grenzebach
A P
AP
Psychology Department, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces 88003.
McDonald
J E
JE
D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D003657:Decision Making; D006801:Humans; D011930:Reaction Time; D012691:Serial Learning