Unconscious cognition without post hoc selection artifacts: From selective analysis to functional dissociations.

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Unconscious Cognition

Background:

• Post hoc selection is a common method in unconscious cognition research.
• This technique involves selecting trials with low visibility ratings to analyze priming effects.
• Previous criticisms include statistical artifacts and chance capitalization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically evaluate the validity of post hoc selection in unconscious cognition research.
• To demonstrate that post hoc selection confounds sensitivity and response bias.
• To propose functional dissociations as a more robust alternative method.

Main Methods:

• Utilized signal detection theory to analyze the effects of post hoc selection.
• Collected data on visibility ratings and sensitivity levels.
• Conceptualized direct (D) and indirect (I) measures within a two-dimensional D-I space.

Main Results:

• Post hoc selection isolates trials with neutral response bias, not necessarily unconscious processing.
• Zero-visibility ratings can coexist with high sensitivity.
• Functional dissociations reveal distinct patterns (simple, sensitivity, double) in the D-I space.

Conclusions:

• Post hoc selection is a flawed method that fails to isolate unconscious stimuli.
• Functional dissociations provide a comprehensive framework for studying awareness and cognitive measures.
• This approach circumvents limitations of previous methods and allows for nuanced analysis.