ERIC Number: EJ842477
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009-Jun
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0096-1523
EISSN: N/A
More than Just Finding Color: Strategy in Global Visual Search Is Shaped by Learned Target Probabilities
Williams, Carrick C.; Pollatsek, Alexander; Cave, Kyle R.; Stroud, Michael J.
Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, v35 n3 p688-699 Jun 2009
In 2 experiments, eye movements were examined during searches in which elements were grouped into four 9-item clusters. The target (a red or blue "T") was known in advance, and each cluster contained different numbers of target-color elements. Rather than color composition of a cluster invariantly guiding the order of search though clusters, the use of color was determined by the probability that the target would appear in a cluster of a certain color type: When the target was equally likely to be in any cluster containing the target color, fixations were directed to those clusters approximately equally, but when targets were more likely to appear in clusters with more target-color items, those clusters were likely to be fixated sooner. (The target probabilities guided search without explicit instruction.) Once fixated, the time spent within a cluster depended on the number of target-color elements, consistent with a search of only those elements. Thus, between-cluster search was influenced by global target probabilities signaled by amount of color or color ratios, whereas within-cluster search was directly driven by presence of the target color. (Contains 3 figures, 3 tables, and 4 footnotes.)
Descriptors: Eye Movements, Probability, Experimental Psychology, Experiments, Visual Perception, Color, Research Methodology, Universities, College Students
American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org/publications
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Massachusetts
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A