The Effect of Set Size on Color Recognition

Abstract

In two separate studies a modification of Sternberg's (13) memory task was used to study the effect of the set size of colored CRT presented stimuli on time to recognition. In both, set sizes from one to seven differently colored circles (memory set) were presented for a variable period of time. Subsequently one colored circle, that had a .50 probability of belonging to the memory set, was presented and the subject responded as to whether or not be believed it belonged to the memory set. In the first study, completely different colors, were used for each set size. Some significant rises in reaction time were found as set size increased but these were definitely not linear. In a second study, successive color sets were incremented by the addition of one color. This made the sets more similar to one another and also created a condition of over-learning for the sets. The results showed no significant differences among the set sizes from two to seven colors. Hence, it appears that for color sets that are fairly well learned, there is no significant effect of set size on time to recognition, at least for set sizes up to seven elements.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 25, 1985
Accession Number
ADA150958

Entities

People

  • A. R. Jacobsen
  • D. F. Neri

Organizations

  • Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Biomedical Research
  • Cathode Ray Tubes
  • Chi Square Test
  • Classification
  • Data Analysis
  • Identification
  • Information Overload
  • Learning
  • Probability
  • Push Buttons
  • Reaction Time
  • Recognition
  • Security
  • Submarine Bases
  • Submarines

Fields of Study

  • Psychology

Readers

  • Brain and Cognitive Science; Experimental Psychology; Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Educational Psychology
  • Vision Science/Vision Psychology/Cognitive Neuroscience.