Divided Attention

Question 1

Divided attention is also known as…

Answer 1

multi-tasking

Question 2

Which variables play an important role in divided attention

Answer 2

~ task similarity
~ practice
~ task difficulty

Question 3

Bourke et al.

Answer 3

(1996)
~ the harder the task, the more likely it will interfere with concurrent tasks
~ tasks differentially use the ‘central capacity’ resource (limited)

Question 4

The PRP effect

Answer 4

Psychological refractory period (PRP)
~ the period between presentation of S2 and the beginning of its cognitive processing
(in relation to CP bottleneck)
~ shows limitation of processing/responding to multiple events

Question 5

The bottleneck for central processing

Answer 5

~ if two tasks are performed shortly after each other, then the response for task 2 is longer
~ cognitive processing of task 2 can only occur once the cognitive processing from task one has finished
~ causes delays in reponses

Question 6

Stimulus onset asynchrony

Answer 6

e.g. the time between stimuli appearing

Question 7

Pashler and Christian (4 + date)

Answer 7

(1994)
~ response to task 2 (R2) was unimpaired, simply delayed
~ as soon as R1 has started, R2 selection can begin
~ demonstrated presence of PRP + bottleneck
~ evidence for limited capacity

Question 8

Evidence for limited capacity

Answer 8

~ PRP data shows bottlenecking
~ bottlenecking is related to response selection
~ our central attention controls the selection of processes
~ therefore our central attention has a limited capacity

Question 9

Segal and Fusella

Answer 9

(1970)
~ suggests multiple capacity resources
~ central resource too simple
~ demands placed on visual modality should not affect auditory modality (tested this)

Question 10

Attentional blink (AB)

Answer 10

~ suggests informational encoding its limited by attentional resources
~ two target stimuli get shown after one another
~ is 2nd shown 200-500nm after 1st it gets blinked –> due to limited attentional capacity

Question 11

Lag-1 sparing

Answer 11

In the AB model, when T2 immediately follows T1 both are remembered

Question 12

Practice and automaticity

Answer 12

~ some limitations of multitasking can be overcome by practice –> responses become automated
~ automated responses start out being controlled processes
~ automation allows attention to be redistributed

Question 13

Schneider + Shiffrin

Answer 13

(1977)
~ looked at ‘automatic’ vs ‘controlled’ processes
~ participants searched through items looking for target set amongst distractors

Question 14

How did S and S manipulate the experiments?

Answer 14

Schneider + Shiffrin (1977)
~memory set size
~ frame size
~ mapping consistency (varied and consistent)

Question 15

Varied mapping

Answer 15

the relationship of the stimulus to response mapping varies from trial to trial
e.g. the same stimulus has different responses

Question 16

Consistent mapping

Answer 16

the response to the stimulus is consistent across extended periods of time/different tasks

Question 17

What was the finding of mapping consistency?

Answer 17

extended consistent training is required in order to develop automatic processing

Question 18

Effect of memory set size and frame size on reaction time

Answer 18

~ clear effect on controlled processing
~ no effect on automatic processing
~ effect was on reaction time

Question 19

Load Theory of selective attention

Answer 19

Lavie (1995)
~ Selective attention is modulated by demands placed on finite capacity perceptual resources
~ links selective and resource aspects of attention

Question 20

Lavie experiment

Answer 20

~ participant asked to identify letter next two signal shape (U or H) under two conditions
~ low load = identify when there is a blue object and don’t when there is a red object
~ heavy load = identify when there is a blue square or a red circle but not when there is a red square or a blue circle

Question 21

Effect of the heavy load (Lavie experiment)

Answer 21

~ perceptual processes need to perform a connection identification task
~ an attention-demanding task
~ attention consumed by signal

Question 22

Effect of the low load (Lavie experiment)

Answer 22

~ perceptual processes perform simple feature identification task = minimal demand on attentional resources
~ attention splits over to distractor (letter)

Question 23

Lavie + early vs late selection

Answer 23

~ When attentional demands are low, late selection occurs (more processing)
~ When attentional demands are high, early selection occurs (more filtration)