Verbal Response Times to Directional Traffic Signs Embedded in Photographic Street Scenes

Abstract

Response times to left and right directional street signs, embedded in photographic street scenes, were measured. Department of Transportation directional signs were photographically inserted on both the left and right side of the road. Both permissive and prohibitive street signs were used. The effect of field dependence, sex, street scene background complexity, and sign type were of interest. The street scene stimuli were presented briefly (180 ms) using a tachistoscope; subjects' verbal response times were measured. Mean response times for men and women did not differ significantly. Field dependence was significantly correlated with response time. Response times increased significantly as the street scene background was made more complex. Prohibitive word signs resulted in the fastest response times.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Bieri, J. , Bradburn, W. , and Galinsky, M. (1957). Sex differences in perceptual behavior. Journal of Personality, 26, 1–12.

Bongo, N. , Winget, C. , and Gieser, G. C. (1979). Ego defenses and perceptual styles. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 30, 599–604.

Burg, A. (1971). Vision and driving: A report on research. Human Factors, 13, 79–87.

DeRussy, E.A. , and Futch, E. (1971). Field dependence independence as related to college curricula. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 33, 1235–1237.

Dewar, R. E. (1976). The slash obscures the symbol on prohibitive traffic signs. Human Factors, 18, 253–258.

Dewar, R. E. , Ellis, J. G. , and Mundy, G. (1976). Reaction time as an index of traffic sign perception. Human Factors, 18, 381–392.

Dixon, W. J. (Ed.). (1981). BMDP statistical software. Berkeley, CA: U. of California Press.

Goodenough, D. R. (1976). A review of individual differences in field dependence as a factor in auto safety. Human Factors, 18, 53–62.

Harano, R. (1970). Relationship of field dependence and motor-vehicle-accident involvement. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 31, 272–274.

10.

Jameson, R. E. , Mclellan, A. T. , and Jackson, T. B. (1971). Perceptual style and traffic accidents. Harrisburg, PA: Governor's Council on Drug and Alcohol Abuse.

11.

King, L. E. (1975). Recognition of symbol and word traffic signs. Journal of Safety Research, 7, 80–84.

12.

Mihal, W. L. , and Barrett, G. V. (1976). Individual differences in perceptual information processing and their relationship to automobile accident involvement. Journal of Applied Psychology, 61, 229–233.

13.

Olson, P. L. (1974). Aspects of driving performance as a function of field dependence. Journal of Applied Psychology, 59, 192–196.

14.

Posner, M. I. (1964). Information reduction in the analysis of sequential tasks. Psychological Review, 71, 491–504.

15.

SAS user's guide: BASICS. (1982) Cary, NC: SAS Institute.

16.

Summola, H. , and Naatanen, R. (1974). Perception of highway traffic signs and motivation. Journal of Safety Research, 6, 150–154.

17.

Teichner, W. H. , and Krebs, H. J. (1974). Laws of visual choice reaction time. Psychological Review, 81, 75–98.

18.

Thurstone, L. L. , and Jeffrey, T. E. (1965). Closure Flexibility (Concealed Figures) Test administration manual. Chicago, IL: Industrial Relations Center.

19.

U.S. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration . (1971). Manual on uniform traffic control devices for streets and highways. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Transportation.

20.

Waber, D. P. (1977). Biological substrates of field dependence: Implications of the sex differences. Psychological Bulletin, 84, 1076–1087.

21.

Witkin, H. A. , Goodenough, D. R. , and Karp, S. A. (1967). Stability of cognitive style from childhood to young adulthood. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 7, 291–300.

22.

Whitaker, L. A. (1980). Stimulus-response compatibility effect in left-right discriminations. Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society, 15, 345–347.

23.

Whitaker, L. A. (1982). Stimulus-response compatability for left-right discriminations as a function of stimulus position. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 8, 865–874.

24.

Whitaker, L.A. , and Stacey, S. (1981). Response times to left and right directional signs. Human Factors, 23, 447–452.