On estimating processing variance: commentary and reanalysis of Kail's "Developmental functions for speeds of
G R Morrison1, S R Morrison, D P Keating
1Department of Psychology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Abstract:
A recent paper by Kail (1988) in this journal appears to contain a significant error in the data analysis. The "goodness-of-fit" coefficients reported which suggest that overall about 94% of the variance can be accounted for by the model seem to be a substantial overestimation as a result of inappropriate procedures for statistical modeling. Using the data made available to us by Kail, we have reanalyzed these results. The corrected values range from 0.9 to 92.1% for the individual tasks with an overall average between 40 and 60%. We suggest that the support for the original conclusions is considerably weaker than reported.
Related Concept Videos
Cognitivism
Previously dominated by behaviorism, which prioritized observable behaviors and largely ignored mental processes, psychology transformed in the 1950s. Cognitive psychologists argue that understanding how we think and process information is...
Cognitive Development During Adulthood
Information Processing Approach
Revisionist Views of Adolescent and Adult Cognition
Causes of Social Behavior II: Cognitive Processes
Automatic Processing and Automatic Social Behavior


