Independence of speed and accuracy in visual search: evidence for separate mechanisms

John M Wilding and Kim Cornish

(2007)

John M Wilding and Kim Cornish (2007) Independence of speed and accuracy in visual search: evidence for separate mechanisms. Child Neuropsychology, 13 (6). pp. 510-521. ISSN 0929-7049

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Abstract

Data from two studies that tested children’s attention using visual search for a series of targets in a complex display and a sustained attention task waiting for signals in a similar display were subjected to Factor Analysis to explore previous indications that speed and accuracy (the number of false alarms to non-targets) on this task reflect different mechanisms. The two factors identified confirmed the separation of these two measures and also suggested that the speed factor was related to Mental Age, while the accuracy factor was related to ratings of attentional ability. It is suggested that ratings of attentional ability reflect the efficiency of Executive Functions, displayed in the ability to inhibit responses to non-targets in these tasks, while speed of search is related to processing speed in the nervous system. Therefore Intelligence and Attentional Ability depend on different underlying features of the nervous system.

Information about this Version

This is a Draft version
This version's date is: 11/2007
This item is peer reviewed

Link to this Version

https://repository.royalholloway.ac.uk/items/fee76022-6599-b5b0-c72e-68d80e43768b/1/

Item TypeJournal Article
TitleIndependence of speed and accuracy in visual search: evidence for separate mechanisms
AuthorsWilding , John
Cornish, Kim
DepartmentsFaculty of Science\Psychology

Identifiers

doi10.1080/09297040601160574

Deposited by Al Dean (ZSRA118) on 01-Mar-2010 in Royal Holloway Research Online.Last modified on 22-Dec-2010

Notes

(C) 2007 Taylor & Francis (Psychology Press), whose permission to mount this version for private study and research is acknowledged.  The repository version is the author's final draft.

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