Unit 3 Divided attention

Question 1

What is divided attention

Answer 1

The ability to allocate attentional resources across multiple tasks or stimuli simultaneously

Question 2

What is a dual-task paradigm?

Answer 2

A method for studying divided attention where participants perform two tasks at once, and performance decrements are measured

Question 3

What does Kahneman’s Theory of Attention (1973) propose?

Answer 3

That there is one general pool of attentional resources that can be flexibly distributed across tasks

Question 4

What are multiple resource models?

Answer 4

Models suggesting separate pools of attentional resources for different modalities, such as visual and auditory tasks

Question 5

How does task difficulty affect divided attention?

Answer 5

More difficult tasks require greater attention, leaving fewer resources available for other tasks

Question 6

What is the difference between controlled and automatic processes?

Answer 6

Controlled processes require conscious attention and are serial, while automatic processes need less attention and can run in parallel.

Question 7

What did the study by Spelke, Hirst & Neisser (1976) show about multitasking?

Answer 7

That multitasking performance improves with practice and repetition