Question

Selective attention is characterized by an ability to do which of the following?

a. Make the right decision in the right context
b. Reduce errors by concentrating on the correct feature set
c. Ignore extraneous information and focus on relevant inputs
d. Reduce visual noise in one channel while concentrating one's efforts on an auditory channel

Answer 1

Selective attention is the ability to focus on relevant inputs and ignore extraneous information. It helps reduce errors and is demonstrated in studies like the Gorilla Basketball video study by Simons and Chabris.

Step-by-step explanation:

Selective attention is characterized by the ability to ignore extraneous information and focus on relevant inputs. It allows us to concentrate on the correct feature set, thereby reducing errors. For example, in the famous Gorilla Basketball video study by Simons and Chabris, participants focused on counting the number of passes between the team dressed in white, completely ignoring the presence of a person in a gorilla costume walking among them.