A cognitive process model is developed that predicts the 3 major symbolic comparison response time effects (distance, end, and semantic congruity) found in the results of the linear syllogistic reasoning task. The model assumes that people generate an ordering of a finite set of symbolic stimuli on the basis of information contained in the pairwise relations between adjacent stimulus items. The learning of this ordering is simulated within a simple connectionist framework. The decision-making component of the model utilizes 2 separate evidence accrual processes operating in parallel. One process accumulates information about the positional difference between the stimulus items being compared, and the other accumulates information about the endpoint status of each of those items. A response occurs whenever enough evidence favouring it has been accumulated within either of these processes. The model also assumes that the congruencies between the positions of the stimulus items within the ordering and the form of the comparative instruction can lead to either interfering or facilitating effects on the rate of evidence accumulation within each of these accrual processes. To test the model, data are obtained from the single-session performances of a group of 16 subjects and the multiple-session performances of an additional 2 subjects. The task is a variant of the one used by Trabasso, Riley, and Wilson (1975) and involves paired comparisons of ordered symbolic stimuli (three-letter names). Simulations of the model provide an excellent account of the group mean correct response times, as well as a very good account of the full set of data obtained from the 2 additional subjects (including percentage correct and response time distributional data).
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.35000 |
| Date | January 1997 |
| Creators | Leth-Steensen, Craig. |
| Contributors | Marley, A. A. J. (advisor) |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Doctor of Philosophy (Department of Psychology.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 001617705, proquestno: NQ44494, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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