Caren Rotello

PhD, 1993, Stanford University (cognitive psychology)

BS, 1989, University of Michigan (psychology & mathematics)

Initiative in Cognitive Science

Current research interests focus on computational and signal detection models of recognition memory, eyewitness memory, and reasoning. Tools include behavioral experiments, modeling, and event-related potentials.

Grad courses taught regularly:

Psych 640 & 641, the first year statistics sequence

Psych 740, Bayesian statistics 

On an occasional basis, Psych 891SD, a graduate seminar on signal detection theory.   

Undergrad courses taught most recently:

Psych 240, introductory statistics

On an occasional basis, Psych 391, a seminar on memory

Cohen, A. L., Starns, J. J., Rotello, C. M., & Cataldo, A. M. (in press). Estimating the proportion of guilty suspects and posterior probability of guilt in lineups using signal-detection models. Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications.

Starns, J. J., Cataldo, A. M., & Rotello, C. M. (2019). Blinded inference: An opportunity for mathematical modelers to lead the way in research reform. Computational Brain & Behavior, 2, 223–228. doi: 10.1007/s42113-019-00040-3

Starns, J. J., Cataldo, A. M., Rotello, C. M., et al. (2019). Assessing theoretical conclusions with blinded inference to investigate a potential inference crisis. Advances in Methods and Practices in Psychological Science. 2, 335-349. doi: 10.1177/2515245919869583

Dillon, B., Andrews, C., Rotello, C. M., & Wagers, M. (2019).  A new argument for co-active parses during language comprehension.  Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, & Cognition,  45, 1271-1286. doi: 10.1037/xlm0000649

Rotello, C. M., Heit, E., & Kelly, L. J. (2019). Do modals identify better models? A comparison of signal detection and probabilistic models of inductive reasoning. Cognitive Psychology, 112, 1-24.  Doi: 10.1016/j.cogpsych.2019.03.004

Rotello, C. M., Kelly, L. J., & Heit, E. (2018).  The shape of ROC curves in shooter tasks:  Implications for best practices in analysis.  Collabra: Psychology, 4(1): 32. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/collabra.171

Heit, E., & Rotello, C. M. (2018).  Putting replication in its place. Behavioral and Brain Sciences. Doi: 10.1017/S0140525X18000687

Rotello, C. M. (2017).  Signal detection theories of recognition memory.  In J. T. Wixted (Ed.), Learning and Memory: A Comprehensive Reference, 2nd edition (Vol. 4: Cognitive Psychology of Memory).  Elsevier.

Rotello, C. M., & Chen, T. (2016).  ROC curve analyses of eyewitness identification decisions: An analysis of the recent debate.  Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications, 1:10. DOI 10.1186/s41235-016-0006-7

Chen, T., Rotello, C. M., & Verhaeghen, P. (2016). A state-trace meta-analysis of the age-related associative memory deficit. In D. Bruno (Ed.), The Preservation of Memory (pp. 56-77). Routledge: New York.

Rotello, C. M., Heit, E., & Dubé, C. (2015).  When more data steer us wrong:  Replications with the wrong dependent measure perpetuate erroneous conclusions.  Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 22, 944-954. DOI 10.3758/s13423-014-0759-2

Chen, T., Starns, J. J., & Rotello, C. M. (2015).  A violation of the conditional independence assumption of discrete state models of recognition memory. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, & Cognition, 41, 1215-1222. doi: 10.1037/xlm0000077

Rana, S., Mout, R., Le, N. D. B., Saha, K., Tonga, G. Y, Bain, R. E. S., Miranda, O. R., Rotello, C. M., & Rotello, V. M. (2015).  Rapid cell-based drug profiling using a multichannel nanoparticle-fluorescent protein sensor.    Nature Nanotechnology, 10, 25-69. doi: 10.1038/nnano.2014.285 [My contribution was statistical.]

Rotello, C. M., & Heit, E. (2014). The neural correlates of belief bias:  activation in inferior frontal cortex reflects response rate differences.  Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 8. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2014.00862.

Cohen, A. L., Rotello, C. M., & Fiorenzo, L. M. (2014).  Memory for license plates. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 20, 347-360.

Pazzaglia, A. M., Staub, A., & Rotello, C. M. (2014).  Encoding time and the mirror effect in recognition memory: Evidence from eyetracking.  Journal of Memory & Language, 75, 77-92.

Starns, J. J., Rotello, C. M., & Hautus, M. J. (2014).  Recognition memory zROC slopes for items with correct versus incorrect source decisions discriminate the dual process and unequal variance signal detection models.  Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, & Cognition, 40, 1205-1225.

Hayes, B. K., Heit, E., & Rotello, C. M. (2014).  Memory, reasoning and categorization:  Parallels and common mechanisms.  Frontiers in Psychology. 5:529. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00529

White, C. N., Kapucu, A., Bruno, D., Rotello, C. M., & Ratcliff, R. (2014).  Response bias for emotional words in immediate recognition memory is due to relatedness rather than emotional valence.  Cognition & Emotion, 28, 867-880. DOI: 10.1080/02699931.2013.858028

Heit, E., & Rotello, C. M. (2014). Traditional difference-score analyses of reasoning are flawed. Cognition, 131, 75-91.

Dube, C., Rotello, C. M., & Pazzaglia, A. M. (2013).  The statistical accuracy and theoretical status of discrete-state MPT models: Reply to Batchelder and Alexander (2013).  Psychological Bulletin, 139, 1213-1220.

Dube, C., Payne, L., Sekuler, R., & Rotello, C. M. (2013).  Paying attention to attention in recognition memory: Insights from models and electrophysiology. Psychological Science, 24, 2398-2408.

Pazzaglia, A. M., Dube, C., & Rotello, C. M. (2013).  A critical comparison of discrete-state and continuous models of recognition memory:  Implications for recognition and beyond.  Psychological Bulletin, 139, 1173-1203.

Starns, J. J., Pazzaglia, A. M., Rotello, C. M., Hautus, M. J., & Macmillan, N. A. (2013).  Unequal-strength source zROC slopes reflect criteria placement and not (necessarily) memory processes. Journal of Experimental Psychology:  Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 39, 1377-1392

Dube, C., Starns, J. J., Rotello, C. M., & Ratcliff, R. (2012).  Beyond ROC curvature: Strength effects and response time data support continuous-evidence models of recognition memory.  Journal of Memory & Language, 67, 389-406.

Heit, E., & Rotello, C. M. (2012). The pervasive effects of argument length on inductive reasoning. Thinking & Reasoning (Special issue on Reasoning and Argumentation), 18, 244-277.

Heit, E., Rotello, C. M., & Hayes, B. K. (2012).  Relations between memory and reasoning.  In  B. Ross (Ed.), Psychology of Learning and Motivation, Vol. 52 (pp. 57-101). Amsterdam: Elsevier.

Starns, J. J., Rotello, C. M., Ratcliff, R. (2012).  Mixing strong and weak targets provides no evidence against the unequal-variance explanation of zROC slopes: A comment on Koen & Yonelinas (2010). Journal of Experimental Psychology:  Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 38, 793-801.

Dube, C., & Rotello, C. M. (2012).  Binary ROCs in perception and recognition memory are curved.  Journal of Experimental Psychology:  Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 38, 130-151.

Dube, C., Rotello, C. M., & Heit, E. (2011).  The belief bias effect is aptly named: A reply to Klauer and Kellen (2011).  Psychological Review, 118, 155-163.

Dube, C., Rotello, C. M., & Heit, E.  (2010).  Assessing the belief bias effect with ROCs: It’s a response bias effect. Psychological Review, 117, 831-863.

Kapucu, A., Macmillan, N. A., & Rotello, C. M. (2010).  Positive and negative remember judgments and ROCs in the plurals paradigm:  Evidence for alternative decision strategies.  Memory & Cognition, 38, 541-554. PMCID2887610

Heit, E., & Rotello, C. M. (2010).  Relations between inductive reasoning and deductive reasoning.  Journal of Experimental Psychology:  Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 36, 805-812.

Wong, M., & Rotello, C. M. (2010).  Conjunction errors and semantic transparency.  Memory & Cognition, 38, 47-56. PMC2905215

Rotello, C.M., & Heit, E. (2009). Modeling the effects of argument length and validity on inductive and deductive reasoning.  Journal of Experimental Psychology:  Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 35, 1317-1330.

Masson, M. E. J., & Rotello, C. M.  (2009).  Sources of bias in the Goodman-Kruskal gamma coefficient measure of association:  Implications for studies of metacognitive processes. Journal of Experimental Psychology:  Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 35, 509-527.

Evans, K., Rotello, C. M., Li, X., & Rayner, K. (2009).  Scene perception and memory revealed by eye movements and ROC analyses: Does a cultural difference truly exist?  Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 62, 276-285. [PMCID: PMC2668147]

Heit, E., & Rotello, C. M. (2008).  Modeling two kinds of reasoning.  Proceedings of the Thirtieth Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society, 1831-1836. Austin, TX: Cognitive Science Society. 

Hautus, M., Macmillan, N. A., & Rotello, C. M. (2008).  Toward a complete decision model of item and source recognition.  Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 15, 889-905.

Cohen, A. L., Rotello, C. M., & Macmillan, N. A. (2008).  Evaluating models of remember-know judgments:  Complexity, mimicry, and discriminability.  Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 15, 906-926.

Kapucu, A., Rotello, C. M., Ready, R. E., & Seidl, K. N. (2008).  Response bias in ‘remembering’ emotional stimuli:  A new perspective on age differences.  Journal of Experimental Psychology:  Learning, Memory, & Cognition, 34, 703-711.

Rotello, C. M., & Zeng, M. (2008).  Analysis of RT distributions in the remember-know paradigm.  Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 15, 825-832.

Rotello,  C. M., Masson, M. E. J., & Verde, M. F. (2008).  Type I error rates and power analyses for single-point sensitivity measures. Perception & Psychophysics, 70, 389-401.

Rayner, K., Miller, B., & Rotello, C. M. (2008).  Eye movements when looking at print advertisements: The goal of the viewer matters.  Applied Cognitive Psychology, 22, 697-707.

Cave, K. R., Cohen, A. L., Rotello, C. M., McCaffrey, A, Ross, M. G., Zeng, M., Zivot, M., Li, X., & Chang, K. (2008). Using eye movements to understand complex visual comparisons. In K. Rayner, D. Shen, X. Bai, & G. Yan (Eds.), Cognitive and Cultural Influences on Eye Movements (pp. 141-156), Tianjin People's Press/Psychology Press.

Rotello, C. M., & Macmillan, N. A. (2008).  Response bias in recognition memory. In A. S. Benjamin & B. H. Ross (Eds.), The Psychology of Learning and Motivation: Skill and Strategy in Memory Use, Vol. 48 (pp. 61-94). London: Academic Press.

Dougal, S., & Rotello, C. M. (2007).  “Remembering” emotional words is based on response bias, not recollection.  Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 14, 423-429.

Verde, M. F., & Rotello, C. M. (2007).  Memory strength and the decision process in recognition memory. Memory & Cognition, 35, 254-262.

Rotello, C. M., Macmillan, N. A., Hicks, J. L., & Hautus, M. (2006).  Interpreting the effects of response bias on remember-know judgments using signal-detection and threshold models. Memory & Cognition, 34, 1598-1614.

Rotello, C. M., & Macmillan, N. A. (2006).  Remember-know models as decision strategies in two experimental paradigms.  Journal of Memory & Language,55, 479-494.

Verde, M. F., Macmillan, N. A., & Rotello, C. M. (2006).  Measures of sensitivity based on a single hit rate and false-alarm rate:  The accuracy, precision, and robustness of d', Az, and A'.  Perception & Psychophysics, 68, 643-654.

Macmillan, N. A., & Rotello, C. M. (2006).  Deciding about decision models of remember and know judgments:  A reply to Murdock.  Psychological Review,113, 657-665.

Heit, E., & Rotello, C. M. (2005).  Are there two kinds of reasoning?  Proceedings of the Twenty-five Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society, 923-928. Mahwah, NJ:  Erlbaum.

Rotello, C. M., Macmillan, N. A., Reeder, J. A., & Wong, M. (2005). The remember response:  Subject to bias, graded, and not a process-pure indicator of recollection. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 12, 865-873.

Macmillan, N. A., Rotello, C. M., & Verde, M. F. (2005). On the importance of models in interpreting remember-know experiments: Comments on Gardiner et al.’s (2002) meta-analysis.  Memory, 13, 607-621.

Verde, M. F., & Rotello, C. M. (2004).  Strong memories obscure weak memories in associative recognition. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 11, 1062-1066.

Macmillan, N. A., Rotello, C. M., Miller, J. O. (2004).  The sampling distributions of Gaussian ROC statistics.  Perception & Psychophysics, 66, 406–421.

Rotello, C. M., Macmillan, N. A., & Reeder, J. A. (2004).  Sum-Difference Theory of Remembering and Knowing:  A Two-Dimensional Signal Detection Model.  Psychological Review, 111, 588–616.

Verde, M. F., & Rotello, C. M. (2004).  ROC curves show that the revelation effect is not a single phenomenon.  Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 11, 560-566.

Verde, M. F., & Rotello, C. M. (2003).  Does familiarity change in the revelation effect? Journal of Experimental Psychology:  Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 29, 739-746.

Pollatsek, A., & Rotello, C. M. (2002).  Attention, perception, and memory.  Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS). Oxford, U.K. [http://www.eolss.net]

Rayner, K., Rotello, C. M., Stewart, A. J., Keir, J., & Duffy, S. A. (2001).  Integrating text and pictorial information:  Eye movements when looking at print advertisements.  Journal of Experimental Psychology:  Applied, 7, 219-226.

Rotello, C. M. (2000).  Recall processes in recognition memory.  In D. L. Medin (Ed.), The Psychology of Learning and Motivation, Vol. 40 (pp. 183-221).  San Diego, CA:   Academic Press.

Rotello, C. M., & Heit, E. (2000).  Associative recognition:  A case of recall-to-reject processing. Memory and Cognition, 28, 907-922.

Rotello, C. M., Macmillan, N. A., & Van Tassel, G. (2000). Recall-to-reject in recognition:  Evidence from ROC curves. Journal of Memory and Language, 43, 67-88.

Stern, E. R., & Rotello, C. M. (2000).  Memory characteristics of recently imagined events and real events experienced previously.  American Journal of Psychology, 113, 569-590.

Dougal, S., & Rotello, C. M. (1999).  Context effects in recognition.  American Journal of Psychology, 112, 277-295. 

Rotello, C. M. (1999).  Metacognition and memory for nonoccurrence.  Memory, 7, 43-63.

Rotello, C. M., & Heit, E. (1999).  Two-process models of recognition memory:  Evidence for Recall-to-reject? Journal of Memory and Language, 40, 432-453.

Catrambone, R., Jones, C. M., Jonides, J., & Seifert, C. (1995).  Reasoning about curvilinear motion:  Using principles or analogy.  Memory & Cognition, 23, 368-373.

Jones, C. M. (1994).  Construction of a mental model.  In R. F. Lorch, Jr., & E. J. O'Brien (Eds.), Sources of Coherence in Reading, (pp. 335-352).  Hillsdale, NJ:  Erlbaum.

Jones, C. M., & Heit, E. (1993).  An evaluation of the total similarity principle:  Effects of similarity on frequency judgments.  Journal of Experimental Psychology:  Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 19, 799-812.

Jonides, J., & Jones, C. M. (1992).  Direct coding for frequency of occurrence.  Journal of Experimental Psychology:  Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 18, 368-378.

PhD, 1993, Stanford University (cognitive psychology)

BS, 1989, University of Michigan (psychology and mathematics)