Triesman and Geffen compared the attenuation theory with the late-selection theory.They asked subjects to indicate when they heard a target word,but the word could occur either in the shadowed or unattended ear.Their results suggest that:
A) the attenuation theory is supported since most subjects detected the shadowed,but not the unattended,target words.
B) the late-selection theory is more accurate since subjects detected the targets equally often in both ears.
C) the attenuation theory must be inaccurate since subjects detected more unattended than attended targets.
D) both the attenuation and late-selection theories do an equally good job of explaining attention.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The attenuation theory, proposed by Treisman, suggests that information is not entirely blocked in the unattended channel but is instead turned down or "attenuated." This theory predicts that some information from the unattended channel (like the target words) might still be processed, but with less efficiency compared to the attended channel. The finding that most subjects detected the shadowed (attended) but not the unattended target words supports the attenuation theory over the late-selection theory, which posits that all information in the unattended channel is blocked from processing.

Triesman and Geffen Compared the Attenuation Theory with the Late-Selection