The Continuing Evolution of Systems Factorial Theory: Connecting Theory with Behavioral and Neural Data

Two of the most prominent strengths of the conjoined metatheory and methodology in systems factorial theory and the double-factorial paradigm (SFT/DFP) are its generality and its emphasis on strong-inference hypothesis testing. The intellectual history of SFT/DFP shows that these two strengths have been central to the evolution of this approach. We review that intellectual history by considering two critical predecessors—the parallel–serial testing paradigm, and the trichotomy method—and by briefly reviewing a range of studies that have applied the approach. We close by presenting a new application that illustrates and emphasizes the generality of DFT/DFP by showing how the approach can be used with the timing of neural events.