Human Information Processing

Question 1

Human Information Processing

Answer 1

Human as a communication system that receives input, acts on input, and outputs a response back to the environment.

Question 2

Three Stage Model (3SM)

Answer 2

Examines performance. Considers characteristics and limitations in three stages. 1) Perception, 2) Cognition, 3) Action.

Question 3

Perceptual Stage (3SM)

Answer 3

Processes that operate from stimulation of sensory organs (sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste).

Question 4

Cognitive Stage (3SM)

Answer 4

Identifies or classifies the stimulus (ex. classifying a sound). Begins to operate to determine an appropriate response.

Question 5

Action Stage (3SM)

Answer 5

An overt response is selected, programmed, and executed. Decide on how to implement action.

Question 6

Memory (Cognitive Stage-3SM)

Answer 6

Sensory Memory, Working Memory, Long-Term Memory.

Question 7

Sensory Memory

Answer 7

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.

Question 8

Iconic Memory (Sensory)

Answer 8

Visual stimuli.

Question 9

Echoic Memory (Sensory)

Answer 9

Auditory stimuli.

Question 10

Haptic Memory (Sensory)

Answer 10

Touch.

Question 11

Working Memory (Cognitive Stage-3SM)

Answer 11

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.

Question 12

Encoding

Answer 12

Moves information from Working Memory into Long-Term Memory.

Question 13

Three Stage Model Processing Errors

Answer 13

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.

Question 14

Detectability

Answer 14

The absolute limits of the sensory systems to provide information that a stimulus is present.

Question 15

Discriminability

Answer 15

The ability to determine that two stimuli differ from each other. Distinguishing.

Question 16

Psychophysical Scaling

Answer 16

Discovering the relation between perceived magnitude and physical magnitude. (Think vs. Actual)

Question 17

Absolute Threshold

Answer 17

Smallest amount of intensity needed for a person to notice a stimulus (Light bulb turned on).

Question 18

Difference Threshold

Answer 18

Smallest amount of difference needed for a person to perceive two stimuli as different (Between dim and bright).

Question 19

Signal Detection

Answer 19

Observer is required to discriminate trials on which the stimulus is present from trials on which it is not.

Question 20

Hit

Answer 20

Response present. Signal present. Correct.

Question 21

Miss

Answer 21

Response absent. Signal present. Incorrect.

Question 22

False Alarm

Answer 22

Response present. Signal absent. Incorrect.

Question 23

Correct Rejection

Answer 23

Response absent. Signal absent. Correct.

Question 24

Emphasize Caution in Signal Detection

Answer 24

Fewer false alarms, but more misses.

Question 25

Emphasize Getting All of the Hits in Signal Detection

Answer 25

Fewer misses, but more false alarms.

Question 26

Scaling Procedures

Answer 26

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.

Question 27

Stevens’ Law

Answer 27

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

Question 28

Reaction Time

Answer 28

The amount of time between the occurrence of an event and a person’s response.

Question 29

Simple Reaction Time (SRT)

Answer 29

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.

Question 30

Choice Reaction Time

Answer 30

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).