Process-dissociation measurement models: Threshold theory or detection theory?

Several methods to account for response biases in the process-dissociation procedure have been proposed. A. P. Yonelinas and L. L. Jacoby (1996) have favored a dual-process, signal-detection model (DPSDM) and have claimed that threshold-based models such as the extended measurement model (EMM) suggested by A. Buchner, E. Erdfelder, and B. Vaterrodt-Plunnecke (1995) should be rejected because threshold models are inconsistent with nonlinear receiver operating characteristics (ROCs) as obtained from confidence ratings. Their claim is shown to be incorrect. An EMM variant for confidence ratings is developed that accounts perfectly for nonlinear ROCs. It is demonstrated that, in contrast, the DPSDM favored by Yonelinas and Jacoby (1996) cannot fit the ROC data of 2 of the 3 experiments reported by A. P. Yonelinas (1994). Further, it is argued that experimental manipulations of response biases result in more thorough tests of process-dissociation models than confidence ratings.