Broadbent\'s Research on Attention Donald Eric Broadbent

Broadbent's Research On Attention

Donald Eric Broadbent an influential English experimental psychologist who was the first person to pull together the mass of diverse work on information theory that gave the area the coherence it lacked. In his experimental work he demonstrated that there was a possibility of studying attention rigorously. The data he used was from behavioral experiments to make inferences on the functional stages of processing and their order of occurrence. In a nutshell he invented the modern study of attention with an experimental approach to it (Driver, 2001).

He brought about a revolution on how research on mental processes was conducted. He put emphasis on how psychological theory and research could come from putting into consideration practical problems. He truly bridged the gap that existed between the laboratory and field. He regarded all theories as temporary accounts of the current information, likely to need revision and improvement when new data emerged. There have been increased uses of experimental models in the labs as a method of understanding human behavior (Driver, 2001). This is because the findings in the lab can be extrapolated to the world beyond this principle is called generilizability.

An experiment approach has various advantages in understanding and solving problems in real life this include;

The fact that the experimental model is easily replicable means that laboratory experiment can be done over and over again numerous times incase results obtained previously seem not to reflect the desired results. This is particularly important since it gives this mode of approach a sense of correctness. This is an advantage since the real world needs solutions that are going to bring positive impacts. This means that they should be thoroughly studied before they are put in place. Experimental results from repeats are regarded as temporary accounts that are likely to need revision and improvement when new data emerged.

Another advantage is the fact that experimental approach allows for precision in the control of extraneous and independent variables. In an experiment the variables available are carefully handled this gives room for great control of these variables. The results are therefore very precise (McLeod, 2012). This particularly relevant in real world situations where there is no room for estimations when trying to find solutions to problems. Most of these problems to be solved need facts that are precise and not mere assumptions.

Another advantage is the fact that an experimental approach has a way of bringing out the relationship between the cause and the effects in a particular situation. In the real world most of the things have specific causes. When these situations occur there are effects that are witnessed. These relationships can be easily established with an experimental approach and hence solutions realized. An example is in pollution where the specific causes of pollution can be determined and the effects also got. This will help in trying to come up with solutions to pollution.

There are also some disadvantages of experimental approach this include;

Some of the experiments may be ecologically invalid. Creation of artificial settings may have an effect in production of behaviors' that are not natural. This will therefore not be a true representation or reflection of a real life situation (McLeod, 2012). This is because the degree to which the experiment represents a real life is quite questionable.

Another disadvantage is the fact that the experimenter may make the results to be bias according to what they want to prove. They can put up variables that are not controlled in an attempt to prove their known facts

Laboratory settings shape the extent to which generalizations can be made from the results that are got and hence the evidence that is gathered becomes relevant in everyday lives. This is due to the fact that most of the experiments have a high ecological validity. This means that the degree by which the investigation represents a real life experience is quite high. For this reason it is acceptable to make a generalization from the results that are got when a relationship with real life is concerned.

Another reason why the experimental approach can be generalized is due to the fact that some of the results that are obtained can be directly applied in the field. In these experiments, experience is not of great importance and the lab context can be viewed as a true reflection of the important aspect of the real world problem. This means that the results that have been quantitatively achieved can be used as a reflection of the real world behavior. The laboratory experimentation is a useful tool that provides qualitative evidence. This is the case even if the ability to generalize some parameters is questionable. Therefore the availability of the qualitative results is an important tool for the generalization of the results that are obtained from the laboratory setting.