title: Diffusion versus linear ballistic accumulation: different models but the same conclusions about psychological processes?
abstract: Quantitative models for response time and accuracy are increasingly used as tools to draw conclusions about psychological processes. Here we investigate the extent to which these substantive conclusions depend on whether researchers use the Ratcliff diffusion model or the Linear Ballistic Accumulator model. Simulations show that the models agree on the effects of changes in the rate of information accumulation and changes in non-decision time, but that they disagree on the effects of changes in response caution. In fits to empirical data, however, the models tend to agree closely on the effects of an experimental manipulation of response caution. We discuss the implications of these conflicting results, concluding that real manipulations of caution map closely, but not perfectly to response caution in either model. Importantly, we conclude that inferences about psychological processes made from real data are unlikely to depend on the model that is used.
authors.affiliation: Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA. christopher.donkin@gmail.com
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Donkin
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heathcote
authors.forename: Eric-Jan
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Wagenmakers
mesh_terms: D002755:Choice Behavior; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003657:Decision Making; D006801:Humans; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D016014:Linear Models; D008606:Mental Processes; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011336:Probability; D011930:Reaction Time; D021641:Recognition, Psychology; D035501:Uncertainty