scholarly journals Towards a common code for difficulty: Navigating a narrow gap is like memorizing an extra digit

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iman Feghhi ◽  
John M. Franchak ◽  
David A. Rosenbaum
Keyword(s):  
Task Difficulty ◽  
Human Perception ◽  
Forced Choice ◽  
Narrow Gap ◽  
Choice Data ◽  
Common Code ◽  
Choice Procedure ◽  
A Value ◽  
Forced Choice Procedure ◽  
And Performance

AbstractWhat makes a task hard or easy? The question seems easy, but answering it has been hard. The only consensus has been that, all else being equal, easy tasks can be performed by more individuals than hard tasks, and easy tasks are usually preferred over hard tasks. Feghhi and Rosenbaum (Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 45, 983–994, 2019) asked whether task difficulty might reflect a single amodal quantity. Based on their subjects’ two-alternative forced-choice data from tasks involving choices of tasks with graded physical and mental challenges, the authors showed that the difficulty of passing through a narrow gap rather than a wide gap was psychologically equivalent to memorizing an extra .55 digits. In the present study, we extended this approach by adding new arguments for the hypothesis that task difficulty might reflect a single amodal quantity (inspired by considerations of physics, economics, and the common code hypothesis for the study of perception and action), and we tested narrower gaps than before to see whether we would find a larger equivalent memory-digit. Consistent with our prediction, we obtained a value of .95. We suggest that our multi-modal two-alternative forced-choice procedure can pave the way toward a better understanding of task difficulty.

scholarly journals A Forced-Choice Procedure to Assess the Acute Relative Reinforcing Effects of Nicotine Dose per se in Humans

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (10) ◽  
pp. 1685-1693 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth A Perkins ◽  
Joshua L Karelitz
Keyword(s):  
A Priori ◽  
Fixed Number ◽  
Forced Choice ◽  
Choice Procedure ◽  
Novel Drugs ◽  
Reinforcing Value ◽  
Forced Choice Procedure ◽  
Per Se ◽  
Reinforcing Effects ◽  
Study Participants

Abstract Introduction A method to assess acute reinforcement due to nicotine may aid identification of doses needed to maintain dependence. After describing development of a forced-choice procedure, results are presented from two studies using it to determine the relative reinforcing effects of nicotine dose per se. Aims and Methods Choice between a higher versus a very low or no nicotine option, via smoking (Study 1, n = 59) and via nasal spray (Study 2, n = 42), was assessed in nontreatment-seeking dependent smokers abstinent overnight. Using a within-subject design, different nicotine levels for each product were administered under blind conditions, initially to assess their discriminability (Study 1: 1.3–17 mg/g each vs. 0.4 mg/g nicotine Spectrum cigarettes; Study 2: 2.5 µg/kg vs. 0 µg/kg nicotine per spray). At the end of sessions for each study, participants engaged in forced-choice trials to assess preference, requiring a fixed number of puffs/sprays for one and/or the other. Results Confirming the procedure’s validity, the choice of the higher nicotine option was significantly greater than that for the very low or no nicotine option in both studies. In Study 1, choice relative to 0.4 mg/g was greater for cigarettes 5.3 mg/g or more but not 2.3 mg/g or less (p = .003 for the interaction of higher content vs. 0.4 mg/g comparison). In Study 2, choice was greater for the nicotine versus placebo spray (p < .005), as nicotine was preferred nearly twice as much as the placebo. Conclusion This forced-choice procedure may efficiently determine the relative reinforcing value of a nicotine dose per se. Implications The forced-choice procedure described here may identify nicotine doses that are acutely reinforcing in dependent smokers. A priori research of choice comparisons between small versus zero nicotine doses could inform clinical research in larger and more diverse samples to determine nicotine contents in cigarettes, and perhaps in other commercial products, that are not reinforcing and, thus, likely to reduce the risk of their addictiveness. This procedure may also be applicable to assessing changes in acute nicotine reinforcement due to different product formulations, novel drugs, or other manipulations, perhaps helping inform development of new interventions for cessation or harm reduction.

scholarly journals Children’s understanding of inherited resemblance: The case of two parents

2003 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 366-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Meerum Terwogt ◽  
Hedy Stegge ◽  
Carolien Rieffe
Keyword(s):  
Forced Choice ◽  
Physical Characteristics ◽  
Parent Child Relationship ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Choice Procedure ◽  
Child Relationship ◽  
Biological Parents ◽  
Forced Choice Procedure ◽  
Parent Child

Four-, 6-, and 10-year-old children were tested in a forced-choice procedure about their beliefs on the inheritance of physical characteristics. They were presented with pictures of two biological parents, and then asked to select the most likely descendant out of three alternatives: a father look-alike, a mother look-alike, and an alternative representing the combined influence of both parents. In several question pairs, additional information was given about the parent–child relationship that was clearly irrelevant to the principles of heredity to examine the extent to which domain confusions were likely to occur. The majority of the 10-year-olds consistently preferred the alternative in which the combined influence of both parents was shown and domain confusions hardly ever occurred. Four- and 6-year-olds, in contrast, were still influenced by information from alien domains, although even their reasoning about inheritance seemed to be theory-like. Overall, the results suggest that with age, children develop a more restricted and better-defined conception of the principles of heredity, in which the combined influence of both parents is acknowledged.

scholarly journals Comparing Rapid and Traditional Forward-Masked Spatial Tuning Curves in Cochlear-Implant Users

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 ◽  
pp. 233121651985130
Author(s):  
Heather A. Kreft ◽  
Lindsay A. DeVries ◽  
Julie G. Arenberg ◽  
Andrew J. Oxenham
Keyword(s):  
Cochlear Implant ◽  
Tuning Curve ◽  
Measurement Procedure ◽  
Forced Choice ◽  
Adaptive Procedure ◽  
Tuning Curves ◽  
Choice Procedure ◽  
Spatial Tuning ◽  
Forced Choice Procedure ◽  
Test Retest Reliability

A rapid forward-masked spatial tuning curve measurement procedure, based on Bekesy tracking, was adapted and evaluated for use with cochlear implants. Twelve postlingually-deafened adult cochlear-implant users participated. Spatial tuning curves using the new procedure and using a traditional forced-choice adaptive procedure resulted in similar estimates of parameters. The Bekesy-tracking method was almost 3 times faster than the forced-choice procedure, but its test–retest reliability was significantly poorer. Although too time-consuming for general clinical use, the new method may have some benefits in individual cases, where identifying electrodes with poor spatial selectivity as candidates for deactivation is deemed necessary.

Simultaneous and Independent Acquisition of Multisensory and Unisensory Associations

Perception ◽  
10.1068/p5843 ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 36 (10) ◽  
pp. 1445-1453 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron R Seitz ◽  
Robyn Kim ◽  
Virginie van Wassenhove ◽  
Ladan Shams
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Learning ◽  
Visual Stimulus ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Visual Stimuli ◽  
Forced Choice ◽  
Independent Manner ◽  
Choice Procedure ◽  
Learning Procedure ◽  
Sensory Modalities ◽  
Forced Choice Procedure

Although humans are almost constantly exposed to stimuli from multiple sensory modalities during daily life, the processes by which we learn to integrate information from multiple senses to acquire knowledge of multisensory objects are not well understood. Here, we present results of a novel audio – visual statistical learning procedure where participants are passively exposed to a rapid serial presentation of arbitrary audio — visual pairings (comprised of artificial/synthetic audio and visual stimuli). Following this exposure, participants were tested with a two-interval forced-choice procedure in which their degree of familiarity with the experienced audio-visual pairings was evaluated against novel audio — visual combinations drawn from the same stimulus set. Our results show that subjects acquire knowledge of visual — visual, audio — audio, and audio — visual stimulus associations and that the learning of these types of associations occurs in an independent manner.

Possible Interaction between Vibration Thresholds by Sex and Motor Dominance in the Index Finger and Big Toe

1997 ◽  
Vol 85 (3) ◽  
pp. 1091-1098 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul T. Ricci
Keyword(s):  
Significant Interaction ◽  
Index Finger ◽  
Forced Choice ◽  
Vibrotactile Threshold ◽  
Great Toe ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Choice Procedure ◽  
Forced Choice Procedure ◽  
Main Effects ◽  
Monofilament Test

Two studies suggest a possible interaction among sex, motor dominance, and vibrotactile threshold for the great toe and index finger. In Study 1 a forced-choice procedure with the Vibratron II (Physitemp Instruments, Inc.) was used; a significant interaction between sex and foot dominance for vibratory threshold was noted with no main effects for the great toe. The greatest difference between men and women was on the nondominant side on the foot. Study 2 replicated Study 1 using the index finger as well as the great toe and used the Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test for a cross-modal comparison. A method of limits procedure was used to increase the generalizability of the data. A similar interaction was found between sex and motor dominance for the index finger but not the great toe. This was attributed to skewing of data for the toe. No effects were found for the Semmes-Weinstein test. Possible usefulness in detecting neuropathies is considered. Larger normative studies including variables such as age, height, and weight are required for generalizable conclusions.

The Sensitivity of Binocular Rivalry Suppression to Changes in Orientation Assessed by Reaction-Time and Forced-Choice Techniques

Perception ◽  
1981 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 283-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert P O'Shea ◽  
Boris Crassini
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Time ◽  
Spatial Frequency ◽  
Binocular Rivalry ◽  
Luminance Contrast ◽  
Forced Choice ◽  
Field Size ◽  
Correct Performance ◽  
Orientation Change ◽  
Choice Procedure ◽  
Forced Choice Procedure

Binocular rivalry was induced between two orthogonal square-wave gratings of the same spatial frequency, luminance, contrast, and field size, presented dichoptically. One of the gratings could be instantly replaced by a third grating differing only in orientation. In one experiment subjects were required to respond as soon as an orientation change was noticed, and to withold response to catch trials (no orientation change). When orientation changes were made to the visible grating, reaction time was found to be a U-shaped function of the magnitude of orientation change. When orientation changes were made to the grating undergoing binocular-rivalry suppression, an overall increase in reaction time was found with the increase being greater for large orientation changes (an asymmetrical U-shaped function). In another experiment subjects were required to detect the direction of a change in orientation in a two-alternative forced-choice procedure. Thresholds were thus obtained for 75% correct performance. It was found that thresholds for orientation changes made to the visible and invisible fields were identical from 20° to 70° orientation change. Outside this range thresholds were higher when orientation changes were made to the field suppressed by binocular rivalry. It is argued that the orientation functions obtained in the two experiments may represent incomplete suppression of either form or transient information during binocular rivalry.

Order Effects in the Administration of a Forced-Choice Procedure for Detection of Malingering in Disability Claimants' Evaluations

1996 ◽  
Vol 83 (3) ◽  
pp. 1007-1016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas J. Guilmette ◽  
Kathleen J. Hast ◽  
William M. Whelihan ◽  
Frank R. Sparadeo ◽  
Gregg Buongiorno
Keyword(s):  
Financial Incentive ◽  
Forced Choice ◽  
Order Effects ◽  
Neuropsychological Evaluation ◽  
Social Security Administration ◽  
Choice Procedure ◽  
The Social ◽  
Forced Choice Procedure ◽  
The Subject

100 disability claimants of the Social Security Administration referred for neuropsychological evaluation and 40 undergraduate college students asked to simulate brain damage were administered a measure for the detection of malingering, an abbreviated version of the Hiscock Forced-choice Procedure, and other neuropsychological tests. Half of each group was administered the Hiscock Procedure at the beginning of the battery; the other half was administered this test last. For both groups, the results indicated poorer performance on the earlier administration of the abbreviated Hiscock Forced-choice Procedure. Formal measures for detection of malingering should be an integral and early part of any neuropsychological evaluation in which the subject has a financial incentive to perform poorly.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document