Perceptual Recognition Thresholds as a Function of Multiple and Single Set and Frequency of Usage of the Stimulus Material

Abstract

The importance of set as a determinant of perceptual behavior in a tachistoscopic simation has received considerable experimental verification, while the concept of set has recently been used to account for other perceptual phenomena (1 2, 3). Investigations of the general influence of set upon perceptual behavior have included experiments in which either the degree of set (7) or the multiplicity of set (6) has been varied. With regard to the latter, the evidence indicates that perceptual behavior in a tachistoscopic simacion is more effective under conditions of single set than multiple set, i.e., where S is set for a single class of stimulus objects as compared to being set for several classes of stimulus objects. However, in experiments using verbal materials as stimuli, che frequency characteristics of these materials have not been included as a parameter within which to evaluate the influence of multiple and single set. Frequency of usage of the stimulus materials has considerable support (4, 9, 10) as a variable determining perceptual recognition thresholds. The purpose of the present experiment was to evaluate the role of single vs. multiple set in a perceptual situation as a function of the frequency of usage of the stimulus material.