With the use of available data, search time and stimulus processing rate for a multidimensional target in an array of such stimuli were analyzed with respect to number of displayed stimuli and total stimulus information. The major findings were that search time decreases and stimulus processing rate increases as the number of dimensions in a multidimensional target increases, and that the rate of processing increases as a function of total stimulus information. A model of total stimulus information which assumes sequential processing of dimensions in order of increasing features or levels was found to fit the data.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BroadbentD. E.Decision and stress.London: Academic Press, 1971
2.
ChristR. E.Review and analysis of color coding research for visual displays.Human Factors, 1975, 17, 542–570
3.
ChristnerC. A.SchutzH. G.RayH.Some factors affecting visual search time for symbols on a large visual display. Paper presented at the 67th annual convention of the American Psychological Association, Cincinnati, August, 1959
4.
DeutschJ. A.DeutschD.Attention: Some theoretical considerations.Psychological Review, 1963, 70, 80–90
5.
EgethH. E.Parallel versus serial processes in multidimensional stimulus discrimination.Perception & Psychophysics, 1966, 1, 245–252
6.
EgethH.JonidesJ.WallS.Parallel processing of multielement displays.Cognitive Psychology, 1972, 3, 674–679
EriksenC. W.SpencerT. J.Visual search under conditions of very rapid sequential input rates.Perception & Psychophysics, 1968, 4, 197–202
9.
GarnerW. R.Uncertainty and structure as psychological concepts.New York: Wiley, 1962
10.
GarnerW. R.Information integration and form of encoding. In
MeltonA. W.MartinE. (Eds.) Coding processes in human memory.Washington: V. H. Winston, 1972
11.
GarnerW. R.The processing of information and structure.New York: Wiley, 1974
12.
GreenB. F.AndersonL. K.Color coding in a visual search task.Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1956, 51, 19–24
13.
KruegerL. E.Search time in a redundant visual display.Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1970, 83, 391–399
14.
LehtiöP. K.The organization of component decisions in visual search. In
SandersA. F. (Ed.) Attention and performance III.Amsterdam: North-Holland, 1970
15.
MeudellP. R.WhistonT. G.An informational analysis of a visual search task.Perception & Psychophysics, 1970, 7, 212–214
16.
MillerG. A.The magical number seven plus or minus two: Some limits on our capacity for processing information.Psychological Review, 1956, 63, 81–97
17.
NewmanK. M.DavisA. R.Non-redundant color, brightness, and flashing rate encoding of geometric symbols in a visual display.Journal of Engineering Psychology, 1962, 1, 47–67
18.
NormanD. A.Toward a theory of memory and attention.Psychological Review, 1968, 75, 522–536
19.
PosnerM. I.Information reduction in the analysis of sequential tasks.Psychological Review, 1964, 71, 491–504
20.
RumelhartD. E.A multicomponent theory of the perception of briefly exposed visual displays.Journal of Mathematical Psychology, 1970, 7, 191–218
21.
SmithS. L.Color coding and visual search.Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1962, 64, 434–440
22.
SmithS. L.Color coding and visual separability in information displays.Journal of Applied Psychology, 1963, 47, 358–364. (a)
23.
SmithS. L.Legibility of overprinted symbols in multicolored displays.Journal of Engineering Psychology, 1963, 2, 82–96. (b)
24.
SmithS. W.Problems in the design of sensor output displays. In
WhitcombM. A. (Ed.) Visual problems of the armed forces.Washington, D.C.: NAS-NRC Committee on Vision, 146–157, 1962
25.
StoneG. C.SolemR. A.Size of stimulus set and response latency in visual search.Psychonomic Science, 1970, 29, 88–89
