Simon Effect coglab student manual PDF

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Simon Effect Minimum time to complete this experiment: 15 minutes Background The Simon Effect refers to the finding that people are faster and more accurate when responding to stimuli that occur in the same relative location as the response, even though the location information is irrelevant to the actual task (Simon, 1969). Studying the Simon Effect gives us insight into a stage of decision making called "response selection." According to information-processing theory, there are three stages of decision making: stimulus identification, response selection, and response execution or the motor stage. Superficially, the Simon Effect may seem similar to the Stroop Effect. However, it is generally accepted that the interference that occurs in the Stroop Effect comes from the stimulus identification, while the interference that occurs in the Simon Effect occurs in the response-selection stage. During response selection, a person uses a rule to translate the relevant stimulus dimension, usually shape or color, to the correct left or right response. However, the location dimension of the stimulus (its position on the screen) overlaps with the relevant stimulus dimension (left or right). Because of this, the irrelevant location dimension of the stimulus activates the corresponding response and interferes with making a response to the non-corresponding side. As a result, same-side responses are faster and more accurate than opposite-side responses. In the real world, the Simon Effect has important implications. Primarily, it shows that location information cannot be ignored and will affect decision making, even if the user knows that the information is irrelevant. The Simon Effect (and related phenomena) must be taken into account in design of man-machine interfaces. Good interfaces display information in ways that match the types of responses people should make. For example, imagine that you are flying a plane and the left engine has a problem. The indicator for that engine should be to the left of a corresponding indicator for the right engine. If it is the other way around, you may respond incorrectly to the indicator and adjust the wrong engine. That could be problematic. Instructions 1. In the text fields below, enter your CogLab log-in ID and password. If you do not have a log-in ID and password, see your instructor for information on how to get one for your class. 2. Click the Submit information button. 3. If the information is correct, the Start experiment button will become activated. Click the button to begin the experiment. A window will appear that fills nearly the entire screen, and a smaller window will appear with abbreviated instructions. Close the instructions window. You can open it again later from the CogLab Info. menu. Position your hands so the index finger of your left hand is on the v key and the index finger of your right hand is on the m key. Press the space bar to start a trial. A fixation dot will appear in the middle of the window. Stare at it. A short time later (less than a second), you will be shown a red or green square to the left or right of fixation dot. Your task is to press the v key if the square is green and to press the m if the square is red. After each trial, you will be given feedback about whether your response was correct or incorrect, and how fast your reaction-time was in milliseconds. If you respond before the stimulus appears or too long after the stimulus appears, you will be prompted to slow down or speed up.

There are at least 100 trials. If you make a mistake (e.g., report a green square as red), the trial will be repeated later in the experiment. You can discard a trial by pressing the t key instead of v or m. Discarding is appropriate if, after starting a trial, you sneeze, zone out, or are otherwise distracted. Discarded trials will be repeated later. At the end of the experiment, you will be asked if you want to save your data to a set of global data. After you answer the question, a new Web page window will appear that lists your class averages for this experiment. On that page is also a link to your personal data. Additional Resources Urcuioli, P., Vu, K., & Proctor, R. (2005) A Simon Effect in Pigeons. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 134, 93-107. Van der Lubbe, R., & Verleger, R. (2002). Aging and the Simon task. Psychophysiology, 39, 100-110. Proctor, R., & Lu, C. (1999). Processing irrelevant location information: Practice and transfer effects in choice-reaction tasks. Memory & Cognition, 27, 63-77. Basic Questions 1. The Simon Effect is the result of a conflict between two sources of information. Describe this conflict. 2. According to human information-processing theory, at what stage does the Simon Effect occur? 3. Compare your data to the global data. Did you display a smaller or larger Simon Effect than the group? Explain. Advanced Questions 1. Consider the stove design below, using your knowledge about the Simon Effect. Identify a positive aspect of the design as well as an aspect with the design that could be problematic. (The knob on the far left corresponds to the stove coil on the bottom left, the knob second from the left corresponds to the stove coil on the top left, the knob second from the right corresponds to the stove coil on the top right, and the knob on the far right corresponds to the stove coil on the bottom right.) 2. While you are driving, a pedestrian walks in front of your car from the right side and you do not have time to stop. Thinking only in terms of the Simon Effect, what would be your best course of action? Explain. 3. Many designs that utilize what is known about stimulus location and response compatibility (the Simon Effect) are evident in transportation. Think about the last few times you have been in a car and identify two of them Discussion Question 1. In this demonstration, you were shown targets to the left and right of your eye fixation and had to make a right or a left key press depending on the target. Describe another experimental setup in which you might find a Simon Effect. Be sure to identify the targets, responses, target locations, and the conflict that would cause the Simon Effect....