Human Information Processing Flashcards
Human Information Processing
Human as a communication system that receives input, acts on input, and outputs a response back to the environment.
Three Stage Model (3SM)
Examines performance. Considers characteristics and limitations in three stages. 1) Perception, 2) Cognition, 3) Action.
Perceptual Stage (3SM)
Processes that operate from stimulation of sensory organs (sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste).
Cognitive Stage (3SM)
Identifies or classifies the stimulus (ex. classifying a sound). Begins to operate to determine an appropriate response.
Action Stage (3SM)
An overt response is selected, programmed, and executed. Decide on how to implement action.
Memory (Cognitive Stage-3SM)
Sensory Memory, Working Memory, Long-Term Memory.
Sensory Memory
Acts as a buffer for stimuli received through the senses and is constantly being overwritten by new information. Holding area. Unattended information is lost. Iconic, Echoic, & Haptic.
Iconic Memory (Sensory)
Visual stimuli.
Echoic Memory (Sensory)
Auditory stimuli.
Haptic Memory (Sensory)
Touch.
Working Memory (Cognitive Stage-3SM)
A temporary memory system that you can use in order to help you do other complicated cognitive tasks. Fragile and contents must be maintained. Unrehearsed information is lost quickly. 1) Phonological loop: stores sounds of language, 2) Visuo-spatial sketchpad: stores visual and spatial info.
Encoding
Moves information from Working Memory into Long-Term Memory.
Three Stage Model Processing Errors
1) Data-Limited Processing: Perception. Info input to a stage is degraded.
2) Resource-Limited Processing: Cognitive. System is not powerful enough to perform operations
3) Structurally Limited Processing: Inability of one system to perform several operations at once.
Detectability
The absolute limits of the sensory systems to provide information that a stimulus is present.
Discriminability
The ability to determine that two stimuli differ from each other. Distinguishing.
Psychophysical Scaling
Discovering the relation between perceived magnitude and physical magnitude. (Think vs. Actual)
Absolute Threshold
Smallest amount of intensity needed for a person to notice a stimulus (Light bulb turned on).
Difference Threshold
Smallest amount of difference needed for a person to perceive two stimuli as different (Between dim and bright).
Signal Detection
Observer is required to discriminate trials on which the stimulus is present from trials on which it is not.
Hit
Response present. Signal present. Correct.
Miss
Response absent. Signal present. Incorrect.
False Alarm
Response present. Signal absent. Incorrect.
Correct Rejection
Response absent. Signal absent. Correct.
Emphasize Caution in Signal Detection
Fewer false alarms, but more misses.
Emphasize Getting All of the Hits in Signal Detection
Fewer misses, but more false alarms.
Scaling Procedures
1) Direct: Ask perceiver to rate the perceived intensity of the stimuli.
2) Indirect: Derive the quantitative scale indirectly from a perceiver’s performance at discriminating stimuli.
Stevens’ Law
Relationship between physical intensity and psychological magnitude (perceived magnitude). [S=aI^n]
S- reported sensory experience
a- constant
I- physical intensity
n- exponent that varies from different senses
Reaction Time
The amount of time between the occurrence of an event and a person’s response.
Simple Reaction Time (SRT)
A single response is made after the action occurs. (When you hear this sound, press a button). Fast, range between 0.15 to 0.2 seconds.
Choice Reaction Time
More than one response can be made and the correct response depends on the stimulus that occurs. (Press left arrow key when you see left arrow, press right arrow key when you see right arrow).
