DECOMPOSING WATER-LEVEL RESPONSES - FIELD EFFECTS AS SEPARATE INFLUENCES

A previous study on water-level task performance using binomial mixtur e analyses showed that subgroups of subjects could be identified which used different response rules. Some subjects used a bottom parallel r ule, others used a random-like rule, and still others used the correct response rule. The present study relates the water-level task perform ance of these subgroups to held effect influences. Subjects were 604 c hildren and adolescents aged 7 to 15 years who responded to eight wate r-level and eight rod-and-frame task items. The results show that the water-level response distribution is influenced by the frame of the ve ssel. These held effects are relatively small if subjects maintain a f ixed response rule, and they are large if subjects use a nonfixed rand om rule. Both field effects and response rules contribute to the behav ior of subjects responding to water-level task items. (C) 1996 Academi c Press, Inc.