Perceptual training for visual search

    Authors

    D. Schuster; J. Rivera; B. C. Sellers; S. M. Fiore;F. Jentsch

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Ergonomics

    Keywords

    visual search; signal detection; perception; conceptual training; perceptual training; COMPUTER-AIDED DETECTION; IMAGE PERCEPTION; EXPERTISE; TASK; PERFORMANCE; SKILLS; DISCRIMINATION; COLOR; ANTICIPATION; RECOGNITION; Engineering, Industrial; Ergonomics; Psychology, Applied; Psychology

    Abstract

    People are better at visual search than the best fully automated methods. Despite this, visual search remains a difficult perceptual task. The goal of this investigation was to experimentally test the ways in which visual search performance could be improved through two categories of training interventions: perceptual training and conceptual training. To determine the effects of each training on a later performance task, the two types of trainings were manipulated using a between-subjects design (conceptual vs. perceptualxtraining present vs. training absent). Perceptual training led to speed and accuracy improvements in visual search. Issues with the design and administration of the conceptual training limited conclusions on its effectiveness but provided useful lessons for conceptual training design. The results suggest that when the visual search task involves detecting heterogeneous or otherwise unpredictable stimuli, perceptual training can improve visual search performance. Similarly, careful consideration of the performance task and training design is required to evaluate the effectiveness of conceptual training. Practitioner Summary: Visual search is a difficult, yet critical, task in industries such as baggage screening and radiology. This study investigated the effectiveness of perceptual training for visual search. The results suggest that when visual search involves detecting heterogeneous or otherwise unpredictable stimuli, perceptual training may improve the speed and accuracy of visual search.

    Journal Title

    Ergonomics

    Volume

    56

    Issue/Number

    7

    Publication Date

    1-1-2013

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    1101

    Last Page

    1115

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000321814500004

    ISSN

    0014-0139

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