Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Decomposing the Variance in Reading Comprehension to Reveal the Unique and Common Effects of Language and Decoding
Published on: October 11, 2018
Additivity of factor effects in reading tasks is still a challenge for computational models: Reply to Ziegler, Perry,
Derek Besner1, Shannon O'Malley
1Cognition and Perception Unit, Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada. dbesner@uwaterloo.ca
Abstract:
J. C. Ziegler, C. Perry, and M. Zorzi (2009) have claimed that their connectionist dual process model (CDP+) can simulate the data reported by S. O'Malley and D. Besner. Most centrally, they have claimed that the model simulates additive effects of stimulus quality and word frequency on the time to read aloud when words and nonwords are randomly intermixed. This work represents an important attempt given that computational models of reading processes have to date largely ignored the issue of whether it is possible to simulate additive effects. Despite CDP+'s success at capturing many other phenomena, it is clear that CDP+ fails to capture the full pattern seen with skilled readers in these experiments.
Related Concept Videos
Factorial Design
Information Processing Approach
Factors Affecting Perception
An illustrative example of a perceptual set is the scenario where an airline pilot told...
Language and Cognition
Pharmacodynamic Models: Additive and Proportional Drug Effect Model
Social Facilitation

