Elements of Human Performance
Reaction Processes and Attention in Human Skill
Andries F. Sanders(Author)
Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Inc (Publisher)
Published on 1. January 1998
Book
Paperback/Softback
300 pages
978-0-8058-2052-2 (ISBN)
Description
This volume presents a review of research on reaction processes and attention as it has evolved over the last 40 years in the context of the information processing tradition in cognitive psychology. It is argued and demonstrated that issues of reaction processes and attention are closely interconnected. Their common conceptualization can be seen in terms of limited processing capacity on the one hand, and stage analysis on the other. This volume concludes that, at present, a stage analysis metaphor offers better prospects as a conceptual starting point; the limited capacity metaphor was strongly tied to the digital computers of the 1960s. The emphasis of the book is on behavioural research, but summaries of related findings on evoked potentials and other psychophysiological variables are included as well. From this perspective it may be of interest to neuropsychologists who want to learn about the present state of cognitive experimental paradigms. It also addresses the question of the relation between basic research and applications in the above areas.
This is particularly urgent in view of the now common notion that the results of many simplified laboratory tasks may be artifactual and of little applied value. A back-to-back research strategy is outlined to assess the validity of basic research results for real-life tasks.
This is particularly urgent in view of the now common notion that the results of many simplified laboratory tasks may be artifactual and of little applied value. A back-to-back research strategy is outlined to assess the validity of basic research results for real-life tasks.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Mahwah
United States
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Inc
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
Illustrations
ISBN-13
978-0-8058-2052-2 (9780805820522)
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Schweitzer Classification
Content
Reaction Processes: General Properties and Models; Stage Analysis; Effects of Specific Variables; Beyond Traditional Choice Reaction Time; Attention: Focused Attention and Search; Automaticity and Divided Attention; Energetics, Stress and Sustained Attention. Epilogue: Stages vs. Capacity - a Final Verdict; The Total Task - Reversal of the Perspective.