title: Decision making and memory: a critique of Juslin and Olsson's (1997) sampling model of sensory discrimination.
abstract: P. Juslin and H. Olsson's (1997) distinction between Thurstonian and Brunswikian uncertainty is examined and their sampling model of sensory discrimination analyzed as a representative of the class of memoryless decision processes. The separate characteristics and combined behavior of 4 main components of the model are explored: (a) the basic decision process, (b) the assumption of deadline responding, (c) the moving window model of memory, and (d) the hypothesized basis for confidence. It is argued that grafting a moving window memory onto a memoryless decision process has several undesirable consequences. Moreover, the suggested basis for confidence leads to predictions that are counterintuitive and unsupported by empirical evidence. It is concluded that the window-sampling model is a maladapted combination of inappropriate elements, which is implausible as a model of decision making, memory, or confidence, in sensory discrimination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Adelaide University, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia. douglas.vickers@adelaide.edu.au
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vickers
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pietsch
mesh_terms: D003657:Decision Making; D004193:Discrimination Learning; D006801:Humans; D011939:Mental Recall; D010465:Perception; D011601:Psychophysics; D011930:Reaction Time