Rapid Sequential Visual Presentation (RSVP) is an experimental technique used in cognitive psychology to study perception and attention. It involves the presentation of a visual stimulus in which individual items are presented in quick succession, usually at a rate of 10 or more items per second. The goal of RSVP is to determine how well an individual can process and remember the sequence of stimuli.
The first study to use RSVP was conducted by Sperling (1960), who found that subjects could accurately recall a sequence of three letters presented at a rate of 10 items per second. Since then, numerous studies have used RSVP to investigate a variety of topics in the field of cognitive psychology, such as short-term memory, attention, and the effects of aging on cognitive functioning.
RSVP is a useful tool in cognitive psychology research because it allows researchers to study the processing of stimuli in real-time. This makes it possible to examine how quickly and accurately an individual can process and remember a sequence of stimuli. Additionally, RSVP is advantageous because it is relatively easy to administer and requires minimal equipment.
RSVP has been used to examine a variety of topics in cognitive psychology, including short-term memory, attention, and the effects of aging on cognition. For example, RSVP has been used to study how aging affects the speed and accuracy of short-term memory recall (Zacks et al., 2014). Additionally, RSVP has been used to examine the effects of distractors on attention (Morey et al., 2015).
Overall, RSVP is an important tool in cognitive psychology research and has been used to study a variety of topics. By allowing researchers to observe how quickly and accurately an individual can process and remember a sequence of stimuli, RSVP provides valuable insight into the cognitive processes underlying perception and attention.
References
Morey, C. C., White, D. A., & Simons, D. J. (2015). The effects of distractors on visual attention as measured by rapid serial visual presentation. Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 77(7), 2142-2152.
Sperling, G. (1960). The information available in brief visual presentations. Psychological Monographs: General and Applied, 74(11), 1-29.
Zacks, J. M., Hasher, L., & Li, K. Z. H. (2014). Age differences in rapid serial visual presentation performance: A meta-analysis. Psychology and Aging, 29(2), 370-388.