Final answer:
People generally detect target items that have dissimilar features to distractors more quickly in a visual search. This is due to the contrast that allows the target to stand out, which is grounded in the Gestalt principles and the concept of perceptual hypotheses.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the research on visual search, people usually detect target items with dissimilar features to distractors quickly. So, the correct answer to the question "Which type of target items do people usually detect quickly in a visual search?" is b) Target items with dissimilar features to distractors quickly.
This is explained by the fact that when there is a high contrast or lack of similarity between the target and its surroundings, it stands out more and is easier to identify. This concept is related to the Gestalt principles of perception, which include factors such as similarity, proximity, and continuity that help our brain to organize sensory information from our environment.
Visual search efficiency is also influenced by factors mentioned in gestalt and perceptual hypothesis, such as our expectations, past experiences, and the context in which we perceive the visual information.