Hypothesis testSequential Sampling

Drift Diffusion Model

The Drift Diffusion Model (DDM) is a mathematical framework for understanding rapid binary decision-making by modeling the accumulation of evidence over time as a random walk with drift. Developed by Roger Ratcliff in the 1970s, it predicts both choice probabilities and response time distributions, providing insight into the cognitive processes underlying decisions in perceptual discrimination, recognition memory, and choice tasks.

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Sources

  1. Ratcliff, R. (1978). A theory of memory retrieval. Psychological Review, 85(2), 59-108. DOI: 10.1037/0033-295X.85.2.59
  2. Ratcliff, R., & McKoon, G. (2008). The diffusion model: A universal model for rapid decision. Psychological Review, 115(2), 357-380. DOI: 10.1037/0033-295X.115.2.357
  3. Wagenmakers, E.-J., van der Maas, H. L. J., & Grasman, R. P. P. P. (2007). An EZ-diffusion model for response time and accuracy. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 14(1), 3-22. DOI: 10.3758/BF03194023

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Referenced by

ScholarGateDrift Diffusion Model (Drift Diffusion Model). Retrieved 2026-06-04 from https://scholargate.app/en/psychology/drift-diffusion-model