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Article
Nice Guys Finish Fast and Bad Guys Finish Last: Facilitatory vs. Inhibitory Interaction in Parallel Systems
Journal of Mathematical Psychology (2011)
  • Ami Eidels
  • Joseph W. Houpt, Wright State University - Main Campus
  • Nicholas Altieri
  • Lei Pei
  • James T. Townsend, Indiana University - Bloomington
Abstract
Systems Factorial Technology is a powerful framework for investigating the fundamental properties of human information processing such as architecture (i.e., serial or parallel processing) and capacity (how processing efficiency is affected by increased workload). The Survivor Interaction Contrast (SIC) and the Capacity Coefficient are effective measures in determining these underlying properties, based on response-time data. Each of the different architectures, under the assumption of independent processing, predicts a specific form of the SIC along with some range of capacity. In this study, we explored SIC predictions of discrete-state (Markov process) and continuous-state (Linear Dynamic) models that allow for certain types of cross-channel interaction. The interaction can be facilitatory or inhibitory: one channel can either facilitate, or slow down processing in its counterpart. Despite the relative generality of these models, the combination of the architecture oriented plus the capacity oriented analyses provide for precise identification of the underlying system.
Keywords
  • Parallel,
  • Interactive,
  • Processing,
  • Survivor interaction contrast,
  • Capacity,
  • Response time
Publication Date
April, 2011
Citation Information
Ami Eidels, Joseph W. Houpt, Nicholas Altieri, Lei Pei, et al.. "Nice Guys Finish Fast and Bad Guys Finish Last: Facilitatory vs. Inhibitory Interaction in Parallel Systems" Journal of Mathematical Psychology Vol. 55 Iss. 2 (2011)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/joseph_houpt/9/