In one study, research participants watched a video screen on which one group of players, dressed in white shirts, were tossing a ball back and forth. Mixed-in with these white-shirted players, and clearly visible on the same video screen, was a group of black-shirted players, also tossing around a ball. When participants were asked to focus on the white-shirted players only, __________.
A) they could not do so; they kept getting distracted by what the black-shirted players were doing
B) they quickly shifted their attention back and forth between the black-shirted and the white-shirted players
C) they ended up seeing something that never really happened: white-shirted players tossing the ball with black-shirted players
D) they failed even to notice when someone in a black gorilla suit strolled through the middle of the scene

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This question refers to a famous psychological experiment known as the "Invisible Gorilla" test, which demonstrates selective attention and inattentional blindness. Participants focusing on the white-shirted players often fail to notice a person in a gorilla suit walking through the scene, illustrating how focusing attention on one task can make us blind to other unexpected events.

In One Study, Research Participants Watched a Video Screen on Which