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Studies in visual search : effects of distractor ratio and local grouping processes

According to Feature Integration Theory (Treisman & Gelade, 1980), search for a target defined by features on two different dimensions (e.g. green horizontal target among red horizontal and green vertical distractors) is conducted via serial attentive search of all items in the array. Results presented in this thesis clearly demonstrate that conjunction search is not conducted as a serial self-terminating search, and suggest that subjects selectively search a single feature set. Strong support is also provided for the role of local grouping processes in visual conjunction search. This includes evidence demonstrating: (1) that local context is an important factor in directing search toward the target, and (2) that groups of spatially adjacent homogeneous elements can be processed in parallel. These results point to the importance of spatial layout of target and distractor elements. More recent theories (e.g. Cave & Wolfe, 1990) will have to be amended in order to account for these data.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.70299
Date January 1991
CreatorsPoisson, Marie E.
PublisherMcGill University
Source SetsLibrary and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation
Formatapplication/pdf
CoverageDoctor of Philosophy (Department of Psychology.)
RightsAll items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated.
Relationalephsysno: 001274920, proquestno: AAINN74664, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest.

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