Moray's 1959 Study on Selective Attention

These flashcards cover the key concepts, aims, methods, results, and implications of Moray's 1959 study on selective attention.

What was the aim of Moray's 1959 study?

To explore the extent to which individuals can block out irrelevant stimuli and focus on a relevant message in a dichotic listening task.

What does the Own Name Effect refer to in Moray's study?

It refers to the phenomenon where participants significantly notice and report hearing their own name when it is mentioned in the unattended ear.

What was the independent variable in Moray's 1959 study?

The type of message presented to each ear (attended ear vs. unattended ear) and the presence of certain words like the participant's name in the unattended ear.

What was the dependent variable in Moray's 1959 study?

The participants’ ability to recall and report the content of the messages from the unattended ear.

How did Moray test for selective attention in his experiment?

Participants listened to two different auditory messages simultaneously and were instructed to pay attention to one ear while ignoring the other.

What did Moray conclude about selective attention?

He concluded that while individuals can selectively attend to one message, certain stimuli, particularly personally significant information, can break through attentional filters.

What practical application does Moray's study suggest for advertising?

Using a person's name or personal trigger words in advertisements may capture their attention, even when they are not consciously focused on the ad.

What is a strength of Moray's study?

The use of a controlled laboratory setting allowed for effective manipulation and isolation of variables, increasing the internal validity.

What is a weakness regarding the ecological validity of Moray's study?

The study was conducted in an artificial laboratory setting, which limits its applicability to real-life situations with dynamic distractions.

What is one criticism regarding demand characteristics in Moray's study?

Participants might have altered their responses based on awareness of the study's purpose, especially regarding expected responses like hearing their own name.