The Effects of Differential Value on the Recall of Realistic Targets

Abstract

The effects of differential value upon detection and recall were investigated using a multisymbol visual display. Three groups of 14 subjects each viewed slides containing experimentally varied numbers of different realistic targets drawn from a population of nine possible targets. All subjects were instructed to maximize the value of their reports. One group was told that all targets were of equal value; for another group a different value was assigned to each of the nine targets; and for a third group, three different values were assigned to three sets of three targets each. The results suggested that performance may depend less on the differences in values assigned to targets than on the number and range of different values.