Technical Report #156

A Network Model for Multiple Choice Accuracy and Response Times

Richard M. Shiffrin

Abstract

This article presents a network model for decision making. Suppose one is interested in both the probability that a subject will make one of n responses (i.e. make a choice or a decision), and the first m moments of the response time distribution associated with that response. The case of two responses has been explored fairly thoroughly, and in particular the use of random walk or diffusion theory has proved useful in the two choice setting. The present work can be viewed in part as providing a generalization of random walk and diffusion models to multiple responses. However, the model applies much more generally.