Are more items identified than can be reported?

Notes that Ss are typically able to report only about 4 items from a many-item array presented tachistoscopically (full-report span). Current models of visual information processing disagree as to whether the limiting process is best represented as identification or as short-term memory. W. K. Estes...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Experimental Psychology : Human Learning and Memory 1976-03, Vol.2 (2), p.208-214
Main Author: Graves, Roger E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cues
Form Perception
Human
Humans
Information Theory
Memory, Short-Term
Models, Psychological
Orientation
Short Term Memory
Space Perception
Time Factors
Visual Perception
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Notes that Ss are typically able to report only about 4 items from a many-item array presented tachistoscopically (full-report span). Current models of visual information processing disagree as to whether the limiting process is best represented as identification or as short-term memory. W. K. Estes and H. A. Taylor (1964) have argued that the number of items identified is up to twice the full-report span and, hence, that memory limits report. In the present study, Exp I, with 20 undergraduates, used a memory-probe method which showed that when no position report is required the large number of items that were identified in the Estes and Taylor paradigm is not greater than the number in a posticonic memory. Exp II, with 10 undergraduates, indicated that when position report is required the number of items identified (with correct position) does not exceed the number which can be reproduced in full report. Results support models in which memory in entailed by identification either as an aspect of the identification process or as a separate stage. (20 ref)
ISSN:0096-1515
0278-7393
2327-9745
1939-1285
DOI:10.1037/0278-7393.2.2.208