Title

Judgments Of The Relative Frequency Of Two Random Sequential Events: Effects Of Duration Of Observation

Date

1960

Index Abstract

Contrails only

Photo Quality

Not Needed

Report Number

WADD TR 60-673

Corporate Author

Wright Air Development Division

Laboratory

Behavioral Sciences Laboratory

Extent

18

PB Number

PB171313

Identifier

AD0247334

AD0247334

Access Rights

OTS

Distribution Classification

1

Contract

Laboratory Research - No Contract

DoD Project

6190

DoD Task

71556

DTIC Record Exists

Yes

Distribution Change Authority Correspondence

PER DOCUMENT MARKINGS

Report Availability

Full text available

Date Issued

1960-09

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effect that duration of observation has on one's ability to tell which of two random sequential events has occurred more frequently. Using a rate of four events per second and observation durations ranging from 1.75 to 80 seconds, two specific conditions were studied: (1) the effect of having a constant observation period repeated so that Ss could anticipate the duration of each observation, and (2) the effect of having a highly variable observation time such that the observer could not accurately anticipate when the time sample would end. Using 75 per cent correct identification of the more frequent event as a threshold measure, the results indicate, for both presentation conditions, that a smaller increment in frequency of one of the events over the other was needed as the observation duration increased. An asymptote was reached as the ratio between the more frequent and the less frequent event approached 1.20. With a constant observation time, the asymptote is reached between 10 and 20 seconds duration, while with a variable observation time, it is reached between 40 and 80 seconds

Subject

Learning

Perception

Reaction (Psychology)

Sampling

Statistical Analysis

Publisher

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH : Behavioral Sciences Laboratory, Aerospace Medical Division, Wright Air Development Division, Air Research and Development Command, United States Air Force

Distribution Conflict

No

Provenance

IIT

Type

report

Format

1 online resource

Creator

Erlick, Dwight E.