von Krause Mischa, Radev Stefan T, Voss Andreas, Quintus Martin, Egloff Boris, Wrzus Cornelia
Department of Psychology, Heidelberg University, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany.
Department of Psychology, Mainz University, 55122 Mainz, Germany.
J Intell. 2021 May 12;9(2):26. doi: 10.3390/jintelligence9020026.
In recent years, mathematical models of decision making, such as the diffusion model, have been endorsed in individual differences research. These models can disentangle different components of the decision process, like processing speed, speed-accuracy trade-offs, and duration of non-decisional processes. The diffusion model estimates individual parameters of cognitive process components, thus allowing the study of individual differences. These parameters are often assumed to show trait-like properties, that is, within-person stability across tasks and time. However, the assumption of temporal stability has so far been insufficiently investigated. With this work, we explore stability and change in diffusion model parameters by following over 270 participants across a time period of two years. We analysed four different aspects of stability and change: rank-order stability, mean-level change, individual differences in change, and profile stability. Diffusion model parameters showed strong rank-order stability and mean-level changes in processing speed and speed-accuracy trade-offs that could be attributed to practice effects. At the same time, people differed little in these patterns across time. In addition, profiles of individual diffusion model parameters proved to be stable over time. We discuss implications of these findings for the use of the diffusion model in individual differences research.
近年来，诸如扩散模型等决策数学模型已在个体差异研究中得到认可。这些模型能够区分决策过程的不同组成部分，如处理速度、速度与准确性的权衡以及非决策过程的持续时间。扩散模型估计认知过程组成部分的个体参数，从而能够研究个体差异。这些参数通常被认为具有类似特质的属性，即在不同任务和时间内个体内部的稳定性。然而，时间稳定性的假设迄今为止尚未得到充分研究。通过这项研究，我们通过对270多名参与者进行为期两年的跟踪，探索扩散模型参数的稳定性和变化。我们分析了稳定性和变化的四个不同方面：排序稳定性、平均水平变化、变化中的个体差异以及剖面稳定性。扩散模型参数显示出很强的排序稳定性，以及处理速度和速度与准确性权衡方面的平均水平变化，这些变化可归因于练习效应。同时，人们在这些模式上随时间的差异很小。此外，个体扩散模型参数的剖面随着时间的推移被证明是稳定的。我们讨论了这些发现对扩散模型在个体差异研究中的应用的影响。
