Summary
This study is concerned with the parallel vs serial processing issue and the closely connected limited capacity vs unlimited capacity issue in simple visual search tasks. The results of four search experiments, two “go- no go” tasks, and two “yes-no” tasks are reported. Conditions of low and high target-noise similarity were used. In all four experiments a clear redundancy gain, that is a decrease in RTs with increasing number of simultaneously presented targets, was observed. This strongly suggests parallel processing of unlimited capacity in all four tasks. Further analysis of the data, in order to investigate whether artifacts could have caused the redundancy gains, indicated an unexpected difference between “go- no go” tasks and “yes-no” tasks. For the “go- no go” tasks, unlimited capacity parallel processing could be firmly established. No firm conclusion about the mode of processing in the “yes-no” tasks reported could be reached.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adkins CJ, Morgan BB, Alluisi EA (1979) Information processing in a binary classification task. Percept Mot Skills 48:851–861
Biederman I, Checkosky SF (1970) Processing redundant information. J Exp Psychol 83:486–490
Egeth H, Atkinson J, Gilmore G, Marcus N (1973) Factors affecting processing mode in visual search. Percept Psychophys 13:394–402
Estes WK (1972) Interactions of signal and background variables in visual processing. Percept Psychophys 12:278–286
Miller J (1982) Divided attention: evidence for coactivation with redundant signals. Cog Psychol 14:247–279
Nickerson RS (1972) Binary classification reaction time: a review of some studies of human information-processing capabilities. Psychonomic Monogr Supp 4:275–318 (Whole number 65)
Santee JL, Egeth HE (1982) Independence versus interference in the perceptual processing of letters. Percept Psychophys 31:101–116
Schneider W, Shiffrin RM (1977) Controlled and automatic human information processing: I. Detection, search and attention. Psychol Rev 84:1–66
Shiffrin RM, Schneider W (1977) Controlled and automatic human information processing: II. Perceptual learning, automatic attending, and a general theory. Psychol Rev 84:127–190
Snodgrass JG, Townsend JT (1980) Comparing parallel and serial models: theory and implementation. J Exp Psychol: Human Percept 6:330–354
Townsend JT (1971) A note on the identifiability of parallel and serial processes. Percept Psychophys 10:161–163
Townsend JT (1972) Some results on the identifiability of parallel and serial processes. Brit J Math Stat Psychol 25:168–199
Townsend JT (1974) Issues and models concerning the processing of a finite number of inputs. In: Kantowitz BH (ed) Human information processing: Tutorials in performance and Cognition. Erlbaum, Hillsdale, NJ
Van der Heijden, AHC (1975) Some evidence for a limited capacity parallel self-terminating process in simple visual search tasks. Acta Psychol (Amst) 39:21–41
Van der Heijden AHC (1981) Short-term visual information forgetting. Routledge & Kegan Paul, The International Library of Psychology, London
Van der Heijden AHC, La Heij W (1982) The array size function in simple visual search tasks: a comparison between “go- no go” and “yes-no” tasks under conditions of high and low target-noise similarity. Psychol Res 44:355–368
Van der Heijden AHC, Menckenberg HW (1974) Some evidence for a self-terminating process in simple visual search tasks. Acta Psychol (Amst) 38:169–181
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
van der Heijden, A.H.C., La Heij, W. & Boer, J.P.A. Parallel processing of redundant targets in simple visual search tasks. Psychol. Res 45, 235–254 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00308704
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00308704