Bow, range, and sequential effects in absolute identification: a response-time analysis

Accuracy and response time (RT) measures were obtained in the absolute identification of line length. Different groups of subjects performed the task under different experimental conditions where range and relative spacing were the main independent variables. For comparison purposes, another group of subjects performed a digit-identification task. Results were analyzed for bow, range, and sequential effects using both accuracy and RT data. A preliminary analysis of RT distributions was also performed. Several phenomena previously documented using accuracy are reproduced, while new observations are reported for RT. The results show a dissociation between RT and accuracy in that the experimental manipulations sometimes affected accuracy but not necessarily RT.