18 Questions
What is the primary function of attention according to James (1890)?
To select and maintain a piece of information or thought in consciousness
Which of the following best describes the concept of divided attention?
Dividing mental resources between multiple stimuli
Neisser's (1976) explanation for the failure to notice unexpected events in the unattended film is based on:
Skilled perceiving
What is the term for the concentration of mental activity that allows you to take in a limited portion of the vast stream of information available?
Focused attention
According to Morgan & Gilliland (1942), attention is characterized by being:
Keenly alive to some specific factor in our environment
What is the primary function of attention in processing information?
To filter out irrelevant information and focus on what is relevant
What happens to attentional demands when we become well-practiced in a task?
They decrease significantly
What is the primary advantage of attention in terms of mental resources?
It allows us to use our limited mental resources judiciously
What is the definition of attention according to James (1890)?
The selection and maintenance of a piece of information or thought in consciousness
What is the primary function of attentional processes in the human brain?
To filter out irrelevant information and focus on relevant stimuli
What is the result of attentional processes in terms of taking action?
We take action based on the information we attended to
What is the primary distinction between conscious and unconscious attentional processes?
Conscious attention is easier to study, while unconscious attention is harder to study
What is the purpose of attention in terms of mental resources?
To use mental resources judiciously by focusing on relevant information
According to Morgan & Gilliland (1942), what is attention?
Being keenly alive to some specific factor in our environment
What is the key benefit of selective attention?
The ability to tune out insignificant details and focus on what is important
What is the primary limitation of human attention, according to the text?
The limited capacity to process information at a given time
Which of the following is an example of selective attention in action?
Focusing on a conversation while ignoring background noise
What is the ultimate outcome of attentional processes, according to the text?
Taking action on the basis of the information attended to
This quiz is based on Neisser's 1976 experiment that explored how attention affects perception. It discusses how participants failed to notice unexpected events in the unattended film and how Neisser argued that skilled perceiving rather than filtered attention explains this pattern. Test your understanding of this classic psychology experiment!
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