RELATIONSHIPS AMONG MULTIPLE TASK ASYMMETRIES 1 - A CRITICAL-REVIEW

Previous multiple-task experiments examining relationships among later al difference measures have been interpreted as supporting (a) both gl obal and local relationships or (b) local relationships only. The evid ence from principle components, correlational, and factor analytic app roaches is reviewed with the aim of reconciling the literature. Althou gh a principle component has been reported to which all asymmetries co rrelate positively, it may not reflect existing null and negative corr elations between pairs of measures. All three literatures make clear t hat such correlations exist, calling into question the reality of a gl obal relationship. In contrast, all three approaches find evidence sup porting the reality of local relationships. Factor analytic approaches most fully develop local relationships and permit interpretation in t erms of hemispheric processes, but they need to (a) use larger sample sizes, (b) prescreen measures for reliability, and (c) make publicly a vailable the underlying correlational matrices. (C) 1998 Academic Pres s.