Chapter 7: Human Info Processing (TEST 2) Flashcards
Perceptual Processor
Responsible for gathering information from the environment (via sensory organs like eyes and ears).
Processes sensory input and converts it into symbols the brain can interpret.
Perceptual Memory
Name the information processing stages
Perception, Memory, Decision Making
Cognitive Processor
Handles the interpretation of sensory input, decision-making, problem-solving, and reasoning.
Links perceptual information to knowledge stored in memory and coordinates
action.
Working Memory
Long-Term Memory
Motor Processor
Converts decisions and plans into physical actions (e.g., moving hands, speaking). Works closely with the cognitive system to perform actions based on decisions.
Motor Memory
Describe this example in Perception processing stage:
Example: You are driving towards an intersection when the traffic light changes from green to yellow.
What Happens?
Your eyes detect the change in the
traffic light from green to yellow.
Sensory Input:
You notice the color change and
interpret that yellow means caution.
Interpretation:
You recognize that yellow is a
warning that the light will turn red
soon.
Describe this example in Memory processing stage:
Example: You are driving towards an intersection when the traffic light changes from green to yellow.
What Happens?
Your brain retrieves from your long- term memory what a yellow light means.
Prior Knowledge:
You remember that yellow means you
need to prepare to stop or proceed
with caution
Working Memory:
When approaching the intersection,
you quickly evaluate your speed &
distance from the light.
Describe this example in Decision-Making processing stage:
Example: You are driving towards an intersection when the traffic light changes from green to yellow.
What Happens?
You assess the situation based on the
visual input (yellow light) and the
information retrieved from memory.
Factors Considered:
You consider your speed, distance to
intersection, traffic, and whether you
can stop safely.
Decision:
You press the brake and stop because
you determine it is safer to stop than
to continue driving through the light.
Describe this example as a summary of all three information processing stages:
Example: You are driving towards an intersection when the traffic light changes from green to yellow.
Perception
You see the yellow light and
recognize its meaning (slow down or
stop).
Memory
You recall from experience/knowledge
that yellow means the light will soon
turn red, and process speed, distance)
Decision-Making:
Based on this information, you
decide to stop the car and act by
pressing the brake.
What is the most important step in the human processing model and why?
Perception is the most important step in the Human Information Processing model because nothing else happens if you do not
perceive it
What are channels? Name and describe all 5 channels.
Refer to the pathways through which information is received, transmitted, and processed by the human cognitive system.
These channels can include different sensory modalities, such as:
- Visual Channel: Processes visual information from the environment through sight.
- Auditory Channel: Processes sound and auditory information.
- Tactile Channel: Involves touch and physical sensations.
- Olfactory Channel: Related to the sense of smell.
- Gustatory Channel: Pertains to taste sensations.
Name All 4 types of attention
- Sustained
- Selective
- Divided
- Focused
Selective Attention with example
may monitor several channels to perform a single task to determine if an event has occurred
Ex:
Focusing on a single conversation at a noisy party while ignoring other background chatter.
Sustained Attention with example
vigilance - prolonged attention to a specific stimuli
Ex:
Watching a movie for two hours without losing focus on the storyline.
Focused Attention with example
Concentrating on a specific signal (may only involve one channel or a number devoted to the same signal), the Largest obstacle is noise
Ex:
Taking a Test
Divided Attention with example
attending to multiple channels and stimuli
Ex: Talking on a phone while cooking
Guidelines for Task Design for Selective Attention
- Preview where signals will occur in the future
- Train on effective scanning patterns
Use few channels
Identify important channels for effective resource allocation
Reduce stress
Place channels close together
Make auditory channels distinctly different from the background noise
If responses are required, ensure there is ample time to respond
Guidelines for Task Design for Sustained Attention
- Decrease the uncertainty as to when the signal will occur (provide a precursor)
- Use artificial signals and provide feedback on detection performance
Work rest schedules are important
Increase conspicuity of signal
Guidelines for Task Design for Focused Attention
- Make each channel distinct
Separate competing channels from the channel of interest
Decrease the number of channels
Distinguish the channel of interest
Guidelines for Task Design for Divided Attention
- Where stress is inevitable, then provide rules for prioritization
Minimize the number of sources of information
Keep the difficulty low
Keep tasks dissimilar to utilize all possible attentional resources
Greater learning of manual tasks reduces the drain
Name the 3 steps in the Memory Process
Encoding, Storage, and Retrieval
Encoding
transforming information into the three memory stores
Storage
maintaining encoded information over time in the short-term or long-term memory
Retrieval
accessing and bringing stored information from memory back
Name the 3 Memory Stores
Sensory Register, Working Memory, and Long Term Memory
Sensory Register
each sensory channel has a store automatic unlimited capacity, but a time limit for storing
iconic (visual) – about 1 second; and
echoic (auditory) – a few seconds
Working Memory
Temporary storage - Holds verbal and spatial information
Capacity: 7±2 chunks
Time: Depends on rehearsal (repeating)
Shows a primacy effect (items presented first will be retained in memory, due to rehearsal) and a recency effect
(items presented last will be retained in memory because they have not had time to decay)
Working Memory Design Guidelines
Minimize working memory load (use short lists, use reminders)
Exploit chunking, mnemonics
Provide visual/spatial echoes
Minimize confusability
Avoid negation – it constitutes an added chunk
Types of Long-Term Memory
Episodic, Semantic, Schema, Mental Model
Episodic Memory with example
spatial, temporal experiences (memories)
Ex: Recalling your first day at school, including who was there and what happened.
Semantic Memory with example
relationships, rules, associations, facts
Ex: Remembering that a cat is a type of animal orunderstanding the rules of grammar.
Schema Memory with example
integrated meaningful framework of information
Ex: A schema for a “restaurant” might include expectations about menus, waitstaff, and how to order food.
Mental Model
purpose of the system
EX: Understanding how a car engine operates, which guides your approach to troubleshooting if the car won’t start.
Design Guidelines for Long Term Memory
Encourage frequency and recency
Standardize
Design information to be remembered
Design to support the development of correct mental models
Limited Capacity Model
Says you have 1 pool of
resources to draw from to
perform all the tasks you
are required.
–as task difficulty increases,
the more resources are
required, therefore you have
fewer resources to perform
other tasks.
Tradeoff between tasks
Must define priorities
One big bucket and once I start spending resources on one task I have less for others
Multiple Resource Theory
human attention and cognitive processing are supported by various resource pools, which can be allocated to different tasks
Multiple buckets on multiple dimensions. Each bucket functions on limited capacity model, but you can spend out of multiple buckets.
Primacy effect
items presented first will be retained due to rehearsal
Recency effect
items presented last will be retained because they have not had time to decay
What is mental workload
Cognitive demand or effort required for a specific task or set of tasks
What is the best way to measure mental workload
subjective measures such as surveys
