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Article

A taxonomy of errors in multiple-target visual search

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Pages 899-921 | Received 01 Mar 2013, Accepted 05 Sep 2013, Published online: 09 Oct 2013
 

Abstract

Multiple-target visual searches are especially error prone; once one target is found, additional targets are likely to be missed. This phenomenon, often called satisfaction of search (which we refer to here as subsequent search misses; SSMs), is well known in radiology, despite no existing consensus about the underlying cause(s). Taking a cognitive laboratory approach, we propose that there are multiple causes of SSMs and present a taxonomy of SSMs based on searchers' eye movements during a multiple-target search task, including both previously identified and novel sources of SSMs. The types and distributions of SSMs revealed effects of working memory load, search strategy, and additional causal factors, suggesting that there is no single cause of SSMs. A multifaceted approach is likely needed to understand the psychological causes of SSMs and then to mitigate them in applied settings such as radiology and baggage screening.

We thank Elise Darling for assistance with conducting the experiment and the Duke Visual Cognition Lab for helpful feedback. This work was partially supported by the Army Research Office [grant number 54528LS] and partially through a subcontract with the Institute for Homeland Security Solutions, a research consortium sponsored by the Resilient Systems Division in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This material is based upon work supported by the DHS under Contract No. HSHQDC-08-C-00100. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of DHS or of the US Government. The study is approved for public release. SHA was supported by a National Science Foundation predoctoral fellowship and a Ford Foundation predoctoral fellowship.

We thank Elise Darling for assistance with conducting the experiment and the Duke Visual Cognition Lab for helpful feedback. This work was partially supported by the Army Research Office [grant number 54528LS] and partially through a subcontract with the Institute for Homeland Security Solutions, a research consortium sponsored by the Resilient Systems Division in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This material is based upon work supported by the DHS under Contract No. HSHQDC-08-C-00100. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of DHS or of the US Government. The study is approved for public release. SHA was supported by a National Science Foundation predoctoral fellowship and a Ford Foundation predoctoral fellowship.

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