Optimizing the Multilink model for word translation: A simulation study to improve model-to-data fit

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Issue Date
2016-07-13
Language
en
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Abstract
In this study, the computational Multilink model (Dijkstra and Rekké, 2010) is used to simulate reaction times of word translation production data. The Multilink model aims amongst others to simulate the word translation process by accounting for effects of cognate status, word frequency, and translation direction. Earlier studies (e.g., Peacock, 2015) have shown that Multilink is able to capture the differences in reaction time difference quite well. In this thesis, the Multilink model is further optimized via a number of modifications. The effect of the modifications is evaluated with a fitness measure that incorporates both reaction time differences as well as translation accuracy and is compared to experimental reaction time data collected by Pruijn (2015). The modifications lead to a 28.4% in fitness and eliminated all translation errors. The model was improved in particular by 1) Improving effects of word frequency through the resting level activation of orthographic and phonological nodes and 2) Modifications on the activation function from orthographic to semantic nodes. Altogether, the optimized Multilink model provides a solid framework for further research upon the effects that occur during word translation.
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Faculteit der Sociale Wetenschappen