Attention As a Limited Capacity Resource

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Attention refers to
characteristics associated with Consciousness Awareness Cognitive effort
As they relate to the performance of skills, with particular reference to the limitations associated with those characteristics on the
Simultaneous performance of multiple skills- what are our limits Detection of relevant information in the performance environment
When we simultaneously perform multiple tasks (e.g. driving a car, listening to a CD, and talking with a passenger)
we sometimes experience no difficulties in performing all the tasks, but we sometimes cannot do all the tasks as we would like
Central Resource Capacity Theories
Propose one central (i.e., CNS) source of attention resources for which all activities requiring attention competeMore demands than capacity, fixed capacity problems arise when demands are more than capacity
Kahneman’s Attention Theory:
Equates attention with “cognitive effort” Proposed flexible attention capacity limits
Arousal level
The factor that influences the amount of attention capacity for a specific performance situation Amount of attention resources available (i.e. capacity) varies in relation to a person’s arousal level Maximum amount available only when arousal level is optimal for the situation Relate to inverted-U function of arousal – performance relationship
3 “rules” people use to allocate available attention resources when performing multiple tasks
1. Ensure completion of at least one task2. Enduring dispositions3. Momentary intentions
Evaluation of attention requirements of multiple tasks to be performed
Critical factor for determining whether sufficient attention resources available – given capacity limits set by arousal level
Enduring dispositions
Involuntary attention allocation, e.g., Novel for the situation Meaningfulness of the event (e.g., “cocktail party phenomenon”)
Momentary intentions
Allocate attention according to instructions
Multiple Resource Theories- Alternative to theories proposing one central resource
Propose that we have several sources for attention Each source has a limited capacity of resources
The multiple sources based on specific information processing component
Sensory input (e.g. visual, proprioceptive) Response output (e.g. verbal, motor) Type of memory code (e.g. spatial, verbal) Performance of simultaneous multiple tasks depends on competition for attention resources within and between the multiple sources
Procedures for Assessing Attention Demands
Dual-task procedure determine the attention demands and characteristics of the simultaneous performance of two different tasks Primary task is the task of interest Secondary task performance is the basis to make inferences about the attention demands of the primary task
Focusing Attention Attentional focus:
The marshalling of attention resources to direct them to specific of our performance or performance environment Width of focusDirection of focus
Width of focus
Focus can be broad or narrow