Information Processing Paradigm

• Stimulus Identification

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• Response Selection

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• Response Programming

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• Time period between the onset of the stimulus and the initiation of the response
• Assumption - as RT increases, preparation time increases.
• Simple RT

Choice RT
   

Factors affecting RT

• Stimulus complexity (level of uncertainty)
• increasing the number of stimulus-response choices results in increased RT
• Hick’s law
• Formula

RT = k log₂ (N+1)
• converts the curvilinear relationship to a linear one
• deals with bits of info, rather than the number of stimuli.
• What are bits?

• 8-choice decision = 3 bits

• Yes/No decision #1. Is it in the top half? Y
• Y/N decision #2. Is it in the left half? N

• Y/N decision #3. Is it in the right box?

• Controlling Levels of Uncertainty

• Response (movement) Complexity

• Increases in movement complexity, by increasing the number of components, will increase RT

• study by Henry & Rogers (1960)

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