Single scores in the RT-based value-driven attentional capture paradigm have high reliability

Value-driven attentional capture (VDAC) involves involuntary attention shifts towards neutral stimuli previously associated with rewards. This phenomenon is pertinent for various neuropsychiatric conditions. This study aims to evaluate the reliability of VDAC using reaction time (RT) and data-limited accuracy measures. Two experiments were conducted: one using the traditional RT-based VDAC paradigm and another using a data-limited accuracy-based approach. The reliability of these measures was assessed through odd-even split-half and test-retest correlations. The RT-based paradigm showed significant VDAC effects and high reliability when individual RT scores were used. However, the data-limited accuracy paradigm did not exhibit VDAC effects, possibly due to task simplicity. RT-based VDAC measures are reliable when using individual scores, while data-limited accuracy measures may require more challenging tasks to effectively capture VDAC. We suggest that researchers in the experimental approaches use single scores instead of difference scores to improve reliability, as they have lower measurement error and higher between-participant variance. Using single scores may require certain prerequisites for them to be meaningful - specifically, that a reliable VDAC effect is observed at the group level.