Abstract
Although recognition memory for pictorial stimuli has been explored using either homogeneous or heterogeneous picture sets, apparently no single study has combined these stimuli and subsequently tested recognition for both types of stimuli. Subjects in two experiments were administered one of three picture sets of 100 slides. Each set consisted of homogeneous and hetero geneous slides that differed only in the ratio of homogeneous to heterogeneous stimuli: 80:20, 50:50, or 20:80. A subject’s recognition memory was then examined for both types of slides. Overall recognition was high for the heterogeneous stimuli but low for the homogeneous test slides. In a signal detection analysis, the picture set involving the largest proportion of heterogeneous stimuli, 20:80, yielded the lowest recognition sensitivity to the heterogeneous stimuli. This interaction of viewing-set composition and type of test stimuli was discussed in relation to picture recognition memory research employing either homogeneous or heterogeneous stimuli.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barnard, W. A., Breeding, M., & Cross, H. A. (1984). Object recognition as a fonction of stimulus characteristics. Bulletin of the Psychomonic Society, 22, 14–18.
Goldstein, A. G., & Chance, J. E. (1970). Visual recognition memory for complex configurations. Perception & Psychophysics, 9, 237–241.
Goldstein, A. G., & Chance, J. E. (1974). Some factors in picture recognition memory. Journal of General Psychology, 90, 69–85.
Green, D. M., & Swets, J. A. (1966). Signal detection theory and psychophysics. New York: Wiley.
Horton, D. L., & Mills, C. B. (1984). Human learning and memory. Annual Review of Psychology, 35, 361–394.
Howe, M. J. A. (1967). Recognition for photographs in homogeneous sequences. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 24, 1181–1182.
Kiphart, M. J., Sjogren, D. D., & Cross, H. A. (1984). Some factors involved in complex picture recognition. Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society, 22, 197–199.
Loftus, G. R. (1982). Picture memory methodology. In C. R. Puff (Ed.), Research methods in human memory and cognition. New York: Academic Press.
Shepard, R. (1967). Recognition memory for words, sentences, and pictures. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 6, 156–163.
Standing, L. (1973). Learning 10,000 pictures. Quarterly Journal of Experiment Psychology, 25, 207–222.
Standing, L., Conezio, H., & Haber, R. N. (1970). Perception and memory for pictures: Single-trial learning of 2,500 visual stimuli. Psychonomic Science, 19, 73–74.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kiphart, M.J., Sjogren, D.D., Loomis, R.J. et al. Recognition of homogeneous and heterogeneous pictures as a function of viewing context. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 23, 109–112 (1985). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03329796
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03329796