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Abstract
Two methods of presenting a given number of visual messages have been compared. (1) Each message was displayed by a separate source. (2) All combinations of n sources were used to display 2n−1 alternative messages. These were called Separate Sources (S) Displays and Combined Sources (C) Displays, respectively. Comparisons were- made between displays of 3, 7 and 15 alternative stimuli. The criteria of efficiency were speed and accuracy of verbal response. At the 3 and 7-choice levels there was no significant difference between the rates of gain of information from the two types of display. At the 15-choice level, subjects gained information significantly more efficiently from the S display. It is concluded that C displays can be used to advantage in signalling systems which must present up to 7 alternative stimuli.