The influence of irrelevant information upon complex visual discrimination.

Abstract

in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph.D. degree.

Multidimensional stimulus identification

“…On the other hand, it has 'not been a difficult matter to show that dimensions other than color can degrade performance when they are irrelevant and are varied in value from trial-to-trial (e.g. Hodge, 1959;Montague, 1965), although such variation does not inevitably lead to impaired performance (Tulving & Lindsay, 1967). One possible explanation of the pattern of results obtained in the present experiments that is consistent with the research cited and with current theorizing is that Ss can normally filter perfectly unless they have had extensive prior practice in responding to values along a currently irrelevant dimension.…”

The influence of irrelevant information on speeded classification tasks

“…In particular, Gregg (1954), Hodge (1959), Montague (1965), Egeth (1966), and Morgan and Alluisi (1967) reported substantial interference effects due to variation along dimensions of the stimulus display that were supposedly irrelevant, while Archer (1954), Morin et al (1961), Fitts and Biederman (1965), and Imai and Garner (1965) reported no such interference. This literature has been reviewed in some detail by Egeth (1967).…”

“…Hodge (1959) and Montague (1965) tested the hypothesis that irrelevant information impairs the processing of relevant information because it evokes competing responses. Both studies showed that the inclusion of irrelevant information which had previously been relevant during the experiment resulted in performance decrements.…”

Effects of discriminability and irrelevant information on absolute judgments’

“…This discrepancy in results has been explained partially on the basis of the way in which the irrelevant information is employed as an experimental variable (Hodge, 1959). That is to say, where the irrelevant information is used in such a way as to increase the likelihood of competing responses (e.g., where the information is sometimes relevant, but irrelevant at other times), it is likely to influence performance adversely.…”