Lecture 5

Question 1

attention

Answer 1

involves a process of selection where the performer juggles several ongoing lines of thinking, with each competing for current resources in our consciousness (James, 1890)

• attention is active, directive, and dynamic
• attention is limited
• attention is related to the demands of the task

Question 2

attention capacity: 2 types

Answer 2

1. Simple task:
   - a simple task and a more complex task: attentional capacity is maximized
   ex) walking and talking
2. Complex task
   - two complex tasks in combination: attentional capacity is minimized (not efficient in either task)
   ex) texting and driving

Question 3

dealing with overload capacity

Answer 3

input stimulus identification response selection movement programming output

• what elements do we attend to?
• learning when/how to shift attention to various aspects of our environment
• plan future aspects
• what happens if there is interference during these stages?

Question 4

stimulus identification phase and interference

Answer 4

• parallel processing: 2 or more streams of info can be processed at the same time without interference from one to the other
• when attentional resources are maximized, we are required to switch attention between competing sources

Question 5

the stroop effect

Answer 5

“the cocktail party effect”
-dichotic listening task: 2 stimuli presented at the same time
out ability to focus on one conversation in an environment that is loud or noisy with many things potentially competing for our attention

Question 6

sustained attention

Answer 6

• during long durations of info processing- attention tends to… decrease over time
• inattention blindness: we scan our environment but do not see events in the video (passing basketball video with gorilla)
• where might this occur in our everyday lives? Not seeing a friend while driving

Question 7

what affects our sustained attention

Answer 7

(military research) fighter plane

• can be affected by several factors:
  1. motivation of the operator
  2. Arousal level (high pressure/ high stress)
  3. Fatigue
  4. Environmental factors (temp, noise)

Question 8

controlled processing

Answer 8

• slow
• attention demanding (both demand attention, and lots of it)
• serially organized (discrete tasks put together)
• are volitional (voluntary)
• effortful

Question 9

automatic processing

Answer 9

• highly practiced people/skills
• processing seems more automatic, requiring less attention
• fast
• not attention demanding
• parallel processing
• involuntary, and often unavoidable

Question 10

automaticity is the result of

Answer 10

an enormous amount of practice

• reading
• a 2nd language
• with automaticity, other info can be processed and produced in parallel without disrupting the task

Question 11

types of skills and automacity

Answer 11

-what is the relationship between processing and then following types of skill?
closed skill: predictable environment- automatic processing would be easier because you know all the info in advance ex) diving
open skill: unpredictable environment

Question 12

how can we develop automacity? 2 ways

Answer 12

-requires practice, lots and lots of practice!
-will it occur quickly? No
2 ways:
1. Consistent mapping- ex) the red light means stop
2. Varied mapping – ex) button layouts on different brands of TV remotes

Question 13

movement programming

Answer 13

• in the final phase of info processing-motor system must still be organized
• our response to the stimulus must be adjusted at various levels
• a changing environment (think opponent) can cause delays/interference

Question 14

delayed movement response

Answer 14

-psychological refractory period

movement response is interrupted movement response is re-organized- and is now successful

Question 15

focus of attention 2 ways:

Answer 15

1. Internal focus of attention- monitoring an ongoing movement- during skill performance
2. External focus of attention- directing attention to an external target-during skill performance (9/10 most effective performance)

Question 16

the inverted U-principle

Answer 16

arousal- the level of excitement produced under stress
—————————————————————–
sleep state extremely alert
-can it have an impact on performance? Yes especially when speed and accuracy is a crucial factor
-perceptual narrowing: it is the tendency for the perceptual field to shrink under stress with high arousal

Question 17

choking under pressure

Answer 17

• occurs when performers change their normal routine or fail to adapt to a changing situation, resulting in failed performance
• attentional control theory (Eysenck 2007): relates to levels of anxiety, attention gets very selective which leads to that competition/poor performance
• change in attentional focus (Beilock 2010): shifts from external to internal focus and performance will degrade (initially)