Speed accuracy tradeoff in reaction time : effect of discrete criterion times.

In a choice reaction time (CRT) experiment that simultaneously varied the relative payoffs fast and accurated responding and the criterion time defening fast vs. slow responses, it was shown that both the relative payoffs and the choice of criterion time have effects on CRT and errors. Of the 2, the criterion-time effect appears to be more stable with practice. A modification of the statistical decision theory model of CRT is suggested to fit these data and a methodological problem concerning the use of such discrete-criterion payoff schemes is discussed.