Abstract
Two experiments were conducted in order to examine the information processing in a visual matching task, using digit sequences of varying complexity as the stimuli. Traditionally, reaction times for “same” judgments do not fit into a single-process self-terminating feature testing model, while those for “different” judgments do. Bamber (1969) proposed a two-stage model to account for the data, and the results of these experiments support this type of model. Strong evidence implying that Bamber’s “identity reporter” has a limited capacity in terms of stimulus complexity was also found. This complexity seems to be deemed by stimulus discriminability and the number of “chunks” of information rather than by “bits” of information being transmitted (Miller, 1956).
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Bamber, D. Reaction times and error rates for “same”-“different” judgments of multidimensional stimuli. Perception & Psychophysics. 1969, 6, 169–174.
Belier, H. K. Parallel and serial stages in matching. Journal of Experimental Psychology. 1970, 84, 213–219.
Broadbent, D. E.PerceptTon and communicatfon. London: Pergamon. 1958.
Cohen, G. Pattern recognition: Differences between matching patterns to patterns and matching descriptions to patterns. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1969, 82, 427–434.
Downing, B., & Gossman, J. Parallel processing of multidimensional stimuli. Perception & Psychophysics, 1970, 8, 57–60.
Egeth, H. Parallel versus serial processes in multidimensional stimulus discrimination. Perception & Psychophysics, 1966, 1, 245–252.
Eichelman, W. Familiarity effects in the simultarieous matching task. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1970, 86, 275–282.
Ellis, S. Unpublished paper presented to colloquium at the State University of New York at Buffalo, New York, May 1972.
Grill, D. Variables influencing the mode of processing of complex stimuli. Perception & Psychophysics, 1971, 10, 51–57.
Hawkins, H. Parallel processing in complex visual discrimination. Perception & Psychophysics, 1969, 5, 56–64.
Hock, H. S. The role of structure in the perception of familiar and unfamiliar stimuli. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Johns Hopkins University. 1971.
Krueger, L. E. Effect of stimulus frequency on speed of “same”-“different” judgments. Paper presented at the Fourth International Symposium on Attention and Performance, Boulder, Colorado, August 1971.
Mackworth, J.Vigilance and attention. Baltimore, Md: Penguin. 1970.
Miller, G. The magical number seven plus or minus two: Some limits on our capacity for processing information. Psychological Review, 1956, 63, 81–87.
Neisser, U.Cognitive psychology. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1967.
Nickerson, R.Binary-classification of reaction times. A review of some studies of human information-processing capabilities. Report No. 2004. Cambridge, Mass: Bolt Beranek and Newman, December 1970.
Robinson, J., Brown, L., & Hayes, W. Tests of effects of past experience on perception. Perceptual & Motor Skills, 1964, 18, 953–956.
Sekuler, R., & Abrams, M. Visual sameness: A choice time analysis of pattern recognition processes. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1968, 77, 232–238.
Smith, E. E. Choice reaction time: An analysis of the major theoretical positions. Psychological Bulletin, 1968, 69, 77–110.
Smith, E. E., & Nielsen, G. Representations and retrieval processes in short-term memory: Recognition and recall of faces. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1970, 85, 397–405.
Snodgrass, J. Matching patterns versus matching digits: The effect of memory dependence and complexity on “same ”-“different” reaction times. Perception & Psychophysics, 1972, 11, 341–349.
Sternberg, S. The discovery of processing stages: Extensions of Donders’ method. In W. G. Koster (Ed.), Attention and performance II. Acta Psychologica, 1969, 30, 276–315.
Swenson, R. G. The elusive trade off: Speed vs accuracy in visual discrimination tasks. Perception & Psychophysics, 1972, 12, 16–32.
Tversky, B. Pictorial and verbal encoding in a short-term memory task. Perception & Psychophysics. 1969, 6, 225–233.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This work was done in partial ful Efllment of the requirements for the PhD degree. The author gratefully acknowledges the guidance provided by Gail Bruder, chairperson of the author’s dissertation committee, and by Erwin Segal, H. K. Belier, Elaine Hull, and Neal Murray.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Silverman, W.P. The perception of identity in simultaneously presented complex visual displays. Memory & Cognition 1, 459–466 (1973). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03208909
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03208909