When item recognition and visual search functions are similar

Abstract

The effect of prolonged practice upon item recognition performance was investigated under conditions of nested positive sets and complete response consistency. Nesting is defined by each positive set containing all the items contained in smaller positive sets. Response consistency is defined by each item in the stimulus set consistently requiring only a positive or only a negative response. A low error level was maintained. Twelve Ss worked with three positive set sizes in each of 36 sessions. Half the Ss worked with digit stimuli and half with pictures. The item recognition function (that function relating response latency and positive set size) was found to be negatively accelerated throughout the course of practice. The effect of positive set size decreased significantly (p < .001) with practice, and set size effects were significantly (p < .03) greater for positive response trials than for negative response trials. Kind of item had no effect on the set size effect. A theoretical framework consistent with these results is suggested. Results from the present study are compared with findings obtained previously from visual search studies. It is concluded that when the procedures in both tasks include response consistency, nested positive sets, and low error levels, the effects of prolonged practice upon the set size from item recognition and visual search are qualitatively very similar.