Simons and Chabris (Cognitive Area)

Question 1

Simons and Chabris Background

Answer 1

In order for us to detect change, attention is required. Change blindness is where individuals often do not detect large changes to objects and scenes from one view to the next. Inattentional blindness occurs when attention is diverted to another object or task and observers often fail to perceive an unexpected object even if it occurs at the point of fixation

Question 2

Simons and Chabris Aim

Answer 2

1) to investigate whether particularly unusual events are likely to be detected
2) to investigate if a more difficult task increases the rate in attentional blindness
3) to investigate the effect of superimposition and transparency of characters in a video

Question 3

Simons and Chabris Sample

Answer 3

192 undergraduate students

Question 4

Simons and Chabris Procedure

Answer 4

1. Participants were tested alone
2. They were given instructions to count the number of passes that the basketball players passed. Depending on their condition, they were eight in the easy condition or hard condition.
3. Whilst watching the unusual event what would happen is either a lady with an umbrella to a gorilla would walk across the screen whilst the basketball players were playing
4. Afterwards, the participants were asked questions “did you notice anything unusual?” if they answered yes they gave details.

Question 5

Simons and Chabris Results

Answer 5

Overall 54% noticed the unexpected event and 46% failed to noticed it

Aim 1 - more participants noticed the lady in the umbrella than the gorilla
Aim 2 - more participants noticed the unexpected event in the easy condition than hard condition
Aim 3 - more participants notice the unexpected event in the opaque condition compared to the transparent