Abstract
This paper presents an adaptation of the method of moments for comparing observed and theoretical distributions of reaction time. By using cumulants in place of moments, considerable simplification of the treatment of convoluted distributions is obtained, particularly if one of the components is normally distributed. Stochastic latency models are often poorly fitted by reaction time data. This may be because a simple latency distribution is convoluted with a normal or high-order gamma distribution. The comparison method described will assist investigation of this and other interpretations of reaction time distributions.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Audley, R. J. A stochastic model for individual choice behavior.Psychol. Rev., 1960,67, 1–15.
Christie, L. S. and Luce, R. D. Decision structure and time relations in simple choice behavior.Bull. math. Biophysics, 1956,18, 89–112.
Cramér, H.Mathematical methods of statistics. Princeton: Princeton Univ. Press, 1946.
Davis, R. Choice reaction times and the theory of intermittency in human performance.Quart. J. exp. Psychol., 1962,14, 157–166.
Fisher, R. A. On the mathematical foundations of theoretical statistics.Phil. Trans. roy. Soc. London, A, 1922,222, 309–368.
Fisher, R. A.Statistical methods for research workers. (10th ed.) Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd, 1946.
Hick, W. E. Discontinuous functioning of the human operator in pursuit tasks.Quart. J. exp. Psychol., 1948,1, 36–57.
Hick, W. E. On the rate of gain of information.Quart. J. exp. Psychol., 1952,4, 11–26.
Hyman, R. Stimulus information as a determinant of reaction time.J. exp. Psychol., 1953,45, 188–196.
Kendall, M. G.The advanced theory of statistics. London: Griffin, 1943.
LaBerge, D. A recruitment theory of simple behavior.Psychometrika, 1962,27, 375–396.
Luce, R. D. Response latencies and probabilities. In K. J. Arrow, S. Karlin, and P. Suppes (Eds.),Mathematical methods in the social sciences, 1959. Stanford: Stanford Univ. Press, 1960. Pp. 298–311.
McGill, W. J. Stochastic latency mechanisms. In R. D. Luce, R. R. Bush, and E. Galanter (Eds.),Handbook of Mathematical Psychology, Vol. I. New York: Wiley, 1963. Pp. 309–360.
Pearson, K.Tables for statisticians and biometricians. (2nd ed.) Cambridge Univ. Press, 1924.
Restle, F.Psychology of judgment and choice. New York: Wiley, 1961.
Stone, M. Models for choice reaction time.Psychometrika, 1960,25, 251–260.
Stroud, J. M. The fine structure of psychological time. In H. Quastler (Ed.),Information theory in psychology. Glencoe, Ill.: Free Press, 1955. Pp. 174–205.
Welford, A. T. The measurement of sensory-motor performance.Ergonomics, 1960,3, 189–230.
White, C. T. Temporal numerosity and the psychological unit of duration.Psychol. Monogr., 1963,77, 12.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This work forms part of a project on “Information in skill situations” supported by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. The paper is in part fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Reading University.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Taylor, D.H. Latency models for reaction time distributions. Psychometrika 30, 157–163 (1965). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02289445
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02289445