title: An analysis of task difficulty using the visually degraded stimulus task.
abstract: This article discusses the utility of the Visually Degraded Stimulus Task developed in 1986 by Vokey, Baker, Hayman, and Jacoby. The program provides 30 line drawings than can be presented in complete form prior to receiving incomplete forms of the same or similar drawings. In the incomplete form, a small percentage of a drawing can be added with each touch of the computer space bar. By this means the percentage of drawing required for identification can be obtained. In this article, difficulty levels of incomplete picture identification are provided for each drawing under conditions of no previous viewing (no prime), previous viewing in an alternate form (conceptual prime), and previous viewing of the same drawings (exact prime). Modifications to the microprocessor computer program are provided to increase its usefulness as a means of testing priming effects in visual memory. Program applications are provided for the study of memory and neuropsychology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, McNeese State University, Lake Charles, LA 70609.
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Whitfield
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Elias
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dore
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D004193:Discrimination Learning; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008838:Microcomputers; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D012984:Software