The discounting model selector: Statistical software for delay discounting applications
Free software now lets any BCBA run expert-level delay-discounting analysis in one click.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team built free software called the Discounting Model Selector.
It picks the best math model for delay-discounting data.
They tested it with fake data and real studies to check accuracy.
What they found
The tool chose the right model a large share of the time.
It also gave clean ED50 values — the point where half the reward feels lost.
Everything runs in a simple point-and-click window, no coding needed.
How this fits with other research
Falligant et al. (2020) also help you trust your data, but they focus on single-case graphs.
Carey et al. (2014) warn that bad sampling can trick your eyes; Gilroy’s tool removes that risk by using all data points.
Together these papers give you both clean graphs and clean numbers.
Why it matters
If you study impulsive choices, this tool saves hours and removes guesswork.
Download it, load your delay-discounting file, and get the right model plus ED50 in under a minute.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Original, open-source computer software was developed and validated against established delay discounting methods in the literature. The software executed approximate Bayesian model selection methods from user-supplied temporal discounting data and computed the effective delay 50 (ED50) from the best performing model. Software was custom-designed to enable behavior analysts to conveniently apply recent statistical methods to temporal discounting data with the aid of a graphical user interface (GUI). The results of independent validation of the approximate Bayesian model selection methods indicated that the program provided results identical to that of the original source paper and its methods. Monte Carlo simulation (n = 50,000) confirmed that true model was selected most often in each setting. Simulation code and data for this study were posted to an online repository for use by other researchers. The model selection approach was applied to three existing delay discounting data sets from the literature in addition to the data from the source paper. Comparisons of model selected ED50 were consistent with traditional indices of discounting. Conceptual issues related to the development and use of computer software by behavior analysts and the opportunities afforded by free and open-sourced software are discussed and a review of possible expansions of this software are provided.
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 2017 · doi:10.1002/jeab.257