Visual Search in Simple Simulations of Realistic Scenes

The effect distracting objects have on visual-search performance in real-life situations cannot readily be predicted from current search theories. The validity of an approach to close this gap was tested by comparing search performance for color slides of scenes in public buildings with performance for simplified computer-generated images derived from these slides. The target was always a blue rectangle in both the original slides of scenes and the computer simulations. The distractors were differently colored rectangles (not blue), and their number was varied systematically. Analysis showed a significant linear increase in search time with number of distractors, which challenges predictions of current search theories. An explanation for this contradiction is proposed. Also, search times for color slides were significantly longer than those for computer images; however, there was no significant interaction between type of stimulus and number of distractors. It is concluded that the simulated scenes yielded adequate predictions of the effect of distracting objects on search performance in real-life situations.