Optimal experimental design for model discrimination.

Full Abstract

Models of a psychological process can be difficult to discriminate experimentally because it is not easy to determine the values of the critical design variables (e.g., presentation schedule, stimulus structure) that will be most informative in differentiating them. Recent developments in sampling-based search methods in statistics make it possible to determine these values and thereby identify an optimal experimental design. After describing the method, it is demonstrated in 2 content areas in cognitive psychology in which models are highly competitive: retention (i.e., forgetting) and categorization. The optimal design is compared with the quality of designs used in the literature. The findings demonstrate that design optimization has the potential to increase the informativeness of the experimental method. Copyright (c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved.

Author information

Author/s: Myung, Jay I (JI); Pitt, Mark A (MA);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210-1351, USA. myung.1(-atsign-)osu.edu

Grants: R01 MH057472-11 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS) ; R01-MH57472 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: Psychological review (Psychol Rev), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Jul; vol 116 (issue 3) : pp 499-518

Dates: Created 2009/07/21; Completed 2009/09/28; Revised 2009/11/03;

PMID: 19618983, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/4/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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