Abstract
A partial processing hypothesis is proposed to account for performance under a visual search condition where target and field items belong to the different conceptual categories, letter and digit (between-category search), as compared to a condition in which they belong to the same category (within-category search). This hypothesized mechanism implies that less information is registered and/or retained in between- than in within-category search. This prediction was tested and confirmed in three experiments. The results indicate that both targets and field items are processed less deeply in between- than in within-category search.
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This research was supported by five sources: Grant MH 23505 to Henry and Lila Gleitman from the National Institute of Mental Health; a contract between the Engineering Psychology Programs, Office of Naval Research and the Johns Hopkins University; and a Spencer Foundation grant, a Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid of Research, and a Rackham Faculty Grant—the last three to John Jonides.
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Gleitman, H., Jonides, J. The cost of categorization in visual search: Incomplete processing of targets and field items. Perception & Psychophysics 20, 281–288 (1976). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03199454
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03199454