Donald E. Broadbent (1926-2019) was a British psychologist, whose research and theories helped to advance the field of Cognitive Psychology. He was best known for his work on human information processing and the development of the “filter model” of attention. His work laid the foundation for modern cognitive psychology, and his research continues to be highly influential in the field.
Broadbent began his academic career studying engineering at the University of London. After completing his degree, he joined the Royal Air Force as a radar technician. During his time in the RAF, he developed an interest in psychology and decided to pursue a career in the field. He obtained his PhD in psychology from the University of Cambridge in 1953.
Broadbent’s research focused on the study of human information processing. He proposed the “filter model” of attention, which states that people have limited capacity to process information, and can only attend to one task at a time. His work on the filter model was highly influential, and it is still widely accepted today.
Broadbent was also a pioneer in the field of applied psychology, with his work at the Applied Psychology Unit (APU) in Cambridge. At the APU, he conducted research on a variety of topics, including noise reduction in factories, ways to reduce errors in aviation, and the effects of stress on performance. His research at the APU helped to bridge the gap between basic and applied psychology, and the work has had a lasting impact on the field.
Donald E. Broadbent was a highly influential figure in the field of cognitive psychology. His research on human information processing and the filter model of attention laid the foundation for modern cognitive psychology. Additionally, his work at the APU helped to bridge the gap between basic and applied psychology. His contributions to the field will continue to be remembered for years to come.
References
Broadbent, D. E. (1953). The experimental study of information processing in the human being. British Journal of Psychology, 44(2), 97–116.
Broadbent, D. E., & Broadbent, M. H. P. (1988). From detection to identification: An historical survey of selective attention research. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 40(2), 169–194.
Broadbent, D. E., Cooper, P. F., FitzGerald, P., & Parkes, K. R. (1958). Studies in the detection and recognition of signals. British Journal of Psychology, 49(1), 11–32.
Hirst, W. (2013). Donald E. Broadbent (1926-2019). British Journal of Psychology, 104(3), 589–591.
James, W. (1890). The principles of psychology. New York, NY: Henry Holt.