title: A Bayesian hierarchical diffusion model decomposition of performance in Approach-Avoidance Tasks.
abstract: Common methods for analysing response time (RT) tasks, frequently used across different disciplines of psychology, suffer from a number of limitations such as the failure to directly measure the underlying latent processes of interest and the inability to take into account the uncertainty associated with each individual's point estimate of performance. Here, we discuss a Bayesian hierarchical diffusion model and apply it to RT data. This model allows researchers to decompose performance into meaningful psychological processes and to account optimally for individual differences and commonalities, even with relatively sparse data. We highlight the advantages of the Bayesian hierarchical diffusion model decomposition by applying it to performance on Approach-Avoidance Tasks, widely used in the emotion and psychopathology literature. Model fits for two experimental data-sets demonstrate that the model performs well. The Bayesian hierarchical diffusion model overcomes important limitations of current analysis procedures and provides deeper insight in latent psychological processes of interest.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Clinical Psychology , University of Amsterdam , Amsterdam , the Netherlands.|b Amsterdam Brain and Cognition , University of Amsterdam , Amsterdam , the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Angelos-Miltiadis
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Krypotos
authors.affiliation: a Department of Clinical Psychology , University of Amsterdam , Amsterdam , the Netherlands.|b Amsterdam Brain and Cognition , University of Amsterdam , Amsterdam , the Netherlands.|c Department of Psychology , KU Leuven , Leuven , Belgium.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Beckers
authors.affiliation: a Department of Clinical Psychology , University of Amsterdam , Amsterdam , the Netherlands.|b Amsterdam Brain and Cognition , University of Amsterdam , Amsterdam , the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Merel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kindt
authors.affiliation: a Department of Clinical Psychology , University of Amsterdam , Amsterdam , the Netherlands.|b Amsterdam Brain and Cognition , University of Amsterdam , Amsterdam , the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Eric-Jan
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Wagenmakers
mesh_terms: D001362:Avoidance Learning; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D004644:Emotions; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011599:Psychopathology / Q000379:methods; D011930:Reaction Time
keywords: Action tendencies; Emotion; Individual differences; Latent psychological processes; Psychopathology; Response time task