SPEED-ACCURACY TRADEOFF IN CHOICE REACTION-TIME - WITHIN CONDITIONS, BETWEEN CONDITIONS, AND BETWEEN SUBJECTS

A quantitative theory of choice reaction time (CRT), developed in the context of accurate performance was successfully applied to a speeded experiment. With estimation of a single parameter, mean criterion level, the theory described the reaction time (RT) distributions for correct responses and errors and the details of the speed-accuracy tradeoff. The form of the tradeoff within experiments is not invariant with a shift of criterion when described by conditional error probabilities. However, a new tradeoff function which is invariant under this condition is presented. Descriptions of individual performance and of individual differences are also provided. Error rates are determined primarily by the amount of criterion variability and the ability to inhibit short-latency errors. Slower subjects with relatively high criterion levels tend to make the most errors. Previous presentations of the theory are extended by a more explicit analysis of the implications of the theory for the speed-accuracy tradeoff. © 1979 Psychonomic Society, Inc.