Information processing as a function of presentation rate.

Abstract

An individual's information processing capability is a function of many variables - stimulus frequency, redundancy, stimulus clarity and practice. This thesis examines the effect of varying stimulus presentation rate; 1) from a low rate through a high rate and back to a low rate again and, 2) from a high rate through a low rate and back again to the high rate. The four randomly presented visual stimuli were equally probable. Performance, expressed as the rate of information transmission was observed (for twenty-three participants) in the key-pressing task on the RATER (Response Analysis Tester). By limiting the subject to only one response per stimulus, the number of correct responses was the rate of information transmitted. The results confirmed the hypotheses, i.e., the rates of information transmitted depended on the rate of information presentation (p < .001). The average information transmitted in the increasing presentation rate was significantly higher than the decreasing presentation rates, irrespective of the sequence of presentation (Low High Low or High Low High).