SACE Psychology — Stage 2
Attention Models — Flashcards & Quiz
Attention is the cognitive process that selects some stimuli for further processing while filtering out others. SACE Psychology Stage 2 covers the classic models of selective attention (Broadbent's filter, Treisman's attenuation, late-selection models) and asks you to compare them and evaluate the empirical evidence including the cocktail party effect and dichotic listening studies.
Key Points
- Selective attention: focusing on one stimulus while ignoring others. Divided attention: handling two or more at once.
- Broadbent's filter model (1958): a bottleneck filters information based on physical features early in processing; unattended messages are lost.
- Treisman's attenuation model (1964): unattended messages are attenuated (weakened) rather than completely blocked, explaining why important words (your name) can still be noticed.
- Late-selection models (Deutsch and Deutsch): all stimuli are processed for meaning, selection happens later.
- Dichotic listening: participant hears different messages in each ear; tests how much unattended information is processed.
- Cocktail party effect: noticing your own name in a noisy room supports Treisman's attenuation over Broadbent's strict filter.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Treating Broadbent and Treisman as the same model — Broadbent is stricter (complete filtering), Treisman allows partial processing.
- Claiming attention is unlimited — it's a bottleneck resource; dividing it reduces performance on each task.
- Forgetting dichotic listening as the key experimental paradigm.
- Mixing up selective (one thing) and divided (multiple things) attention.
- Ignoring the cocktail party effect as evidence that unattended stimuli are processed.
Exam Strategy
SACE Stage 2 attention questions ask you to describe and compare models. Method: (1) define attention and its types, (2) describe Broadbent's filter model with the bottleneck, (3) describe Treisman's attenuation as an improvement, (4) cite evidence (dichotic listening, cocktail party effect), (5) evaluate each model.
Sample Flashcards
Q1: What is selective attention and how did Broadbent explain it?
Selective attention is the ability to focus on relevant information while filtering out irrelevant stimuli. Broadbent’s filter model (1958) proposed that information is filtered early based on physical characteristics (e.g. pitch, location) before semantic processing. Only attended information passes through the filter for further processing.
Sample Quiz Questions
Q1: Broadbent’s filter model proposes that all incoming information is fully processed before being selected for attention.
Answer: FALSE
Broadbent’s filter model is an early-selection model that proposes information is filtered based on physical characteristics before semantic processing. Only attended information passes through for full processing.
Revision Tip
Attention models pair with supporting evidence — build a Revizi deck with each model and its key empirical support.
Last updated: March 2026 · 1 flashcards · 1 quiz questions