Decision times in orthographic processing: a cross-linguistic study.

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Linguistics
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Orthographic decoding mechanisms vary across languages with different orthographies.
• Cross-linguistic differences in reading performance may stem from processing speed and decision criteria.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of decision criterion and processing speed in accounting for performance differences in orthographic decoding across English and Italian speakers.
• To utilize binary tasks and Ratcliff's Diffusion Model to reveal subtle cross-linguistic differences in reading mechanisms.

Main Methods:

• Two studies were conducted using university students (29 English, 28 Italian).
• Study 1: Lexical decision task (words vs. pseudowords).
• Study 2: Face gender judgment task (non-orthographic control).
• Data analyzed using Ratcliff's Diffusion Model to assess drift rate, boundary separation, and decision criterion.

Main Results:

• In the lexical decision task, English speakers made more errors than Italian speakers, with similar reaction times.
• Diffusion model analysis revealed English speakers used a lower decision criterion (more lenient) than Italians.
• No significant cross-linguistic differences in processing speed were found for the orthographic task, but English speakers showed a smaller lexicality effect.
• The face gender judgment task showed no significant cross-linguistic differences in performance or diffusion model parameters.

Conclusions:

• A key finding is a difference in decision criterion specific to orthographic tasks, where English speakers adopt a more lenient approach.
• This lenient criterion in English speakers may explain their lower accuracy without a corresponding decrease in speed.
• Binary tasks combined with the Diffusion Model are effective in uncovering cross-linguistic differences in orthographic processing that may be missed in standard reading tasks.