Psychology Chapter Attention (Part 1)
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Questions and Answers

What does Broadbent's Filter Model primarily focus on?

  • Filtering messages before they are analyzed (correct)
  • The emotional aspects of attention
  • Visual cues in attention management
  • The analysis of incoming information for meaning

    • In Treisman’s Attenuation Theory, what occurs to unattended messages?

  • They are filtered out at the sensory store.
  • They are completely disregarded.
  • They are only partially processed. (correct)
  • They are processed for meaning on the same level as attended messages.

    • What phenomenon describes the ability to focus on one conversation in a noisy environment?

  • Filter effect
  • Shadowing technique
  • Cocktail party effect (correct)
  • Selective processing

    • Which aspect is addressed by the Zoom Lens Model of attention?

    <p>The range of visual attention based on task demands</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of processing is described as drawing from prior knowledge to interpret information?

    <p>Top-down processing</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main function of the Detector in Broadbent’s Filter Model?

    <p>To process attended messages for meaning</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an implication of the Dichotic Listening Task regarding unattended messages?

    <p>Participants can identify some characteristics of the unattended messages.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does object-based attention suggest about the way we process visual stimuli?

    <p>Attention is focused on whole objects rather than isolated features.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does task difficulty impact divided attention?

    <p>Hard tasks make divided attention challenging and can negatively affect performance.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the study by Brooks (1968), how did participants react differently based on the response condition?

    <p>Participants struggled more with verbal responses when the task required them to remember a sentence.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which model suggests that sound is filtered based on physical characteristics?

    <p>Early Selection Model</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What key factor affects the ability to divide attention?

    <p>The complexity of the tasks being performed.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to Treisman's theory, how does the attentuator function in processing stimuli?

    <p>It filters based on meaning, language, and physical characteristics.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary focus of the Spotlight Model of Attention?

    <p>Consciously directing cognitive resources to specific stimuli.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of attention, what does the Zoom Lens Model describe?

    <p>Attention can expand and contract like a camera lens.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does object-based attention emphasize in its processing?

    <p>Specific objects in the visual field are prioritized over others.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does divided attention relate to task performance?

    <p>It mainly benefits simpler tasks but hinders more complex tasks.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which model explains how irrelevant stimuli are filtered out based on their meaning?

    <p>Late Selection Model</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the effect of practice on divided attention?

    <p>Practice helps to perform two difficult tasks simultaneously.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factor does NOT affect the possibility of dividing attention?

    <p>Environmental distractions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the late selection model of attention, which of the following occurs?

    <p>Both attended and some unattended information are processed.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In what scenario might divided attention NOT be effective?

    <p>When the tasks require extensive cognitive resources.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which research study examined the ability to detect targets in rapidly presented frames?

    <p>Schneider &amp; Shiffrin (1977)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which model suggests that an individual focuses on an object and adjusts the area of focus accordingly?

    <p>Zoom lens model.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect of attention is primarily illustrated by MacKay's experiment regarding word processing?

    <p>The meaning of biasing words can influence decision-making.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In a high-load task scenario, which selection model of attention is most likely to be utilized?

    <p>Early Selection Model</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an example of divided attention in everyday activities?

    <p>Listening to music while studying.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements accurately describes a low-load task?

    <p>It is relatively easy and requires minimal cognitive resources.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of attention focuses on objects rather than just the space around them?

    <p>Object-based attention.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes top-down processing in attention?

    <p>Influence of expectations and prior knowledge on perception.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does task load influence access to visual attention mechanisms?

    <p>Determines the degree of attentional selection employed.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which model suggests that attention can be directed at different aspects of visual stimuli simultaneously?

    <p>Object-based Attention Model</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following actions exemplifies ineffective divided attention?

    <p>Driving a car while having a conversation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which component of Treisman's Attenuation Theory is responsible for analyzing incoming messages based on physical characteristics?

    <p>Attenuator</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the highlighted attended message differ from the unattended message in Treisman's model?

    <p>It is processed with full strength.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In Treisman's model, which type of words would have a low threshold for activation?

    <p>Common words</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'leaky filter model' refer to in Treisman's theory?

    <p>Partial processing of unattended messages.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the late-selection model of attention propose?

    <p>Selection happens after all information has been analyzed for meaning.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of attention, which concept refers to the ability to focus on one object while ignoring others?

    <p>Object-based attention</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The ‘Zoom Lens Model’ of attention suggests what about the focus of attention?

    <p>Attention can adjust its size to include more objects or details.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key characteristic of top-down processing in attention?

    <p>It is driven by internal knowledge and expectations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does a higher threshold for activation indicate in Treisman's dictionary unit?

    <p>Words require a stronger signal to activate.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes the function of the Dictionary Unit in Treisman's model?

    <p>To store words and their thresholds for activation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factor significantly influences the ability to divide attention while performing tasks?

    <p>The complexity of the tasks</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Under what condition is divided attention least likely to be effective?

    <p>When both tasks require similar cognitive resources</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the late selection model of attention suggest about processing attended and unattended messages?

    <p>Unattended messages receive minimal processing but may influence responses</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does practice affect performance in tasks that require divided attention?

    <p>Practice can enhance the ability to perform multiple demanding tasks simultaneously</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of task load, which scenario is most likely to employ high-load tasks?

    <p>Driving in a new environment while having a conversation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary aspect of Broadbent’s Filter Model of Attention?

    <p>It filters messages based on physical characteristics.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of the dichotic listening task, what could participants accurately identify from the unattended message?

    <p>The gender of the speaker.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Treisman’s Attenuation Theory suggest about unattended messages?

    <p>They are processed but at a reduced strength.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does task load influence the ability to divide attention?

    <p>High task load limits the effectiveness of selective attention.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which phenomenon describes the ability to focus on a single message in a crowded environment?

    <p>Selective attention.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In Treisman’s attenuation model, what role does the 'Dictionary Unit' serve?

    <p>It recognizes words with varying thresholds for activation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement best describes the outcome of Cherry's 1953 experiment on selective attention?

    <p>They remembered some physical characteristics of the unattended message.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What primarily contributes to the difficulty in responding when performing similar types of tasks simultaneously?

    <p>Competition for cognitive resources</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which model suggests that attention filters stimuli based on their physical characteristics?

    <p>Broadbent’s Early Selection Model</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In Brooks' experiment, how did the task response conditions affect participants' performance?

    <p>Verbal responses were more difficult due to task competition.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which attention model indicates that meaning influences how stimuli are processed?

    <p>McKay’s Late Selection Model</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do high-load tasks affect the selection of attention compared to low-load tasks?

    <p>High-load tasks necessitate early filtering of irrelevant information.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the effect of divided attention on performance when tasks are categorized as similar?

    <p>Negatively affects performance due to increased interference.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect of attention is highlighted by the early selection model?

    <p>Sensory information is filtered before it reaches perception.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What effect does task difficulty have on divided attention during simultaneous tasks?

    <p>It can hinder the effectiveness of multitasking.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In what way does Treisman's Attenuation Model differ from Broadbent’s early selection model?

    <p>It allows some unattended stimuli to be processed based on meaning.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Attention (Part 1)

    • Attention is the process of focusing on specific features of the environment, thoughts, or activities.
    • It is selective, excluding other environmental features.
    • Attention is limited in capacity and timing.
    • It can be overt (consciously attending) or covert (some information grabs attention).
    • Attention is involved in perception (visual and auditory), memory, language, and problem-solving.

    Selective Attention

    • Selective attention is the ability to focus on one thing and ignore others.
    • It's difficult to focus on two messages presented simultaneously.
    • Examples of experiments demonstrate this difficulty. Cherry's 1953 dichotic listening task is one example.

    Broadbent's Filter Model of Attention

    • An early selection model.
    • Incoming information is filtered before analysis for meaning.
    • The filter identifies attended messages based on physical characteristics (e.g., voice, pitch).
    • Unattended messages are removed, leaving only the attended message. The model is described as a "Leaky Filter", in which some unattended information can leak through to the next stage.
    • This model has limitations as later research shows information is processed before being filtered.

    Treisman's Attenuation Theory

    • An early to intermediate selection model.
    • It replaced the filter with an attenuator.
    • The attenuator analyzes incoming information by physical characteristics, language, and meaning.
    • The attended message is processed at full strength, while unattended messages are attenuated (weakened).
    • A dictionary unit contains words with varying thresholds for activation. Important or common words have low thresholds, which allows them to be processed even when attenuated. Your name has a low threshold!

    Late Selection Model

    • Selection of stimuli for processing occurs after analysis for meaning.
    • The final processing stage outputs the attended (strong) message, plus important parts of the weaker unattended message.
    • MacKay's 1973 experiment demonstrated participants' choices were influenced by unattended information.

    Task Load and Divided Attention

    • Task load (difficulty) influences the ability to divide attention.
    • High-load tasks (e.g., complex problem-solving) are best performed with early-selection attention and utilize most cognitive resources.
    • Low-load tasks (e.g., listening to music) allow for additional tasks as cognitive resources are readily available.
    • Skill plays a crucial role; practice can improve multitasking ability and improve automatic processes.

    Skill and Practice

    • Repeated practice of a task leads to its processing becoming automatic.
    • Divided attention becomes possible after sufficient practice, because automatic processing uses less cognitive resources.
    • Schneider and Shiffrin's experiment demonstrated the impact of practice on divided attention in a task with consistent targets.

    Effect of Task Difficulty

    • Difficult tasks reduce the ability to divide attention.
    • Divided attention is complicated when similar tasks compete for cognitive resources.
    • Strayer and Johnston's study on cell phone use while driving illustrates how difficult tasks (driving) are affected by additional concurrent tasks (phone conversation).

    Effect of Task Type

    • Task type (the nature of a task) impacts the success of divided attention.
    • Experiments by Brooks (1968) highlight the competition experienced when responding to a demanding verbal task is compared to a spatial pointing task.

    Visual Attention

    • Visual attention is the mechanism by which we focus on certain aspects of a visual scene.
    • People can see the gist of a scene even if it is displayed briefly.
    • Change blindness: Difficulty detecting changes in scenes, especially small details. This is because these parts of the scene are not processed fully.

    Models for Visual Attention

    • Spotlight Model: Attention operates on a particular location.
    • Zoom Lens Model: Attention can expand or contract in a specific area.
    • Object-based attention: Attention can focus on parts or the whole object.

    Object-based attention from Brain-damaged patients

    • Unilateral neglect: A condition where people ignore information in their left visual field because of damage to their right parietal lobe.

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    Lect4 Attention Part 1 PDF

    Description

    Explore the fascinating concepts of attention in this quiz focused on selective and filtering processes. Learn about the nature of attention, its limitations, and key theories such as Broadbent's Filter Model and Cherry's dichotic listening task through engaging questions. Enhance your understanding of how attention influences perception, memory, and problem-solving.

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